Do Schools Need Dress Codes?

Some students in Forney, Texas, had to rethink their wardrobe this school year. The Forney Independent School District recently banned jeans, T-shirts, and hoodies. Cargo pants, tank tops, and clothing with writing on it are off-limits too. The district also doesn’t allow “extreme modes of hair design,” including dyed hair.

Brooklynn Hollaman is a 10th-grader in Forney. She thinks the new rules are unfair, so she started a petition asking the district to change its dress code. More than 6,000 people have signed it.

Nearly every school has rules about what students can and can’t wear. About 44 percent of U.S. public schools enforce a strict dress code, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Students who don’t follow the rules might be forced to change their clothes or hairstyles or could even get suspended.

Supporters of strict dress codes say the guidelines teach kids how to dress for their future jobs. They also argue that these rules prevent students from being distracted by a classmate’s clothing or hairstyle.

But many people say schools sometimes take dress codes too far. They think kids should be free to express themselves through their clothing. 

Many people argue that strict dress codes violate, or fail to respect, students’ rights. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to free speech. That covers more than just the words you say. It also includes your right to express yourself through the clothes you wear and the way you style your hair.

Dress codes can be confusing too. Some rules can be interpreted in different ways. What one teacher thinks is an “extreme” shirt or hairstyle may seem perfectly normal to another. That confusion could lead to unfair punishments. 

In many schools, students are pulled out of class—and sometimes sent home—for not following the dress code. That’s unacceptable, says Scout Richters. She’s a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, a group that works to protect people’s rights. 

“Kids are in school to learn,” she says. “They shouldn’t have to be too concerned about what they’re wearing.”

Plus, many kids say it’s easier to focus in class when they’re wearing comfortable hoodies or leggings.

Dress codes are a good way to keep order in classrooms, supporters say. They argue that rules about clothing and hairstyles help ensure that kids focus on learning, not fashion. 

Even though the First Amendment gives kids the right to express themselves, there are limits when they’re in school. In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that schools can ban certain clothing choices. For example, anything that could be distracting or hurtful to others can be banned. 

^{Source: National Center for Education Statistics}

Forney officials say their dress code is meant to prepare kids to dress professionally when they look for jobs. 

“There are so many important future workforce skills that we want to impart in our kids,” Justin Terry, the superintendent in Forney, said in a video statement.

Dress codes can have other advantages too. In some schools, kids wear uniforms, which often include collared shirts and khaki pants. Experts say this may cut down on bullying. If everyone is wearing similar outfits, kids may be less likely to be teased about their clothes.