Where in CA is this??? I live in the Inland Empire and our schools have always had these rules for years, but sometimes they are not enforced and neither are the kids punished.

I think it is so hard for schools to enforce these dress codes unless the parents get behind it and you have a very strong administration to follow through.

It's impossible to enforce codes like that. I worked in an upper middle class suburban public high school for years. There was not one single, solitary male teacher who would dare to notice a bare midriff, cleavage or bra strap on a young girl, no matter how obvious or offensive. They can't risk the sexual harrassment lawsuit. The women teachers felt like police, most parents didn't support it because they didn't want their kids wearing stuff from lost and found or Goodwill and were unwilling to leave work to take appropriate clothes to school. The policy was abandoned when the valedictorian's mother was called from her job. She arrived with the attorney she worked for and that was the end of that policy.

I agree that today's clothing is often ridiculous, but my great-grandmother couldn't believe that women would even consider not wearing a corset and wouldn't have dreamed of letting her legs show. And she was a suffragette!

Sherry

We have those same rules and I can definitely tell you they are not enforced on a regular basis. I have seen so many boys with those stupid baggy pants at my son's high school. I hate that. My DD wore a strappy type shirt to school - thicker than spaghetti straps but strappy no less. The VP at her high school did tell her not to wear it again or to wear something over it but it's only sporadically enforced.

I think the 3rd elementary school in my unified school district hometown has gone to a dress code, so it must be working for the first two:

Under the proposed policy, students would be required to wear khaki or corduroy pants and solid-color shirts with collars. The policy places restrictions on the length of skirts and bans jeans and clothing with brand- name logos.

The artical read that these were already in force, just that the wording was changed so there is no questions. The thrift store clothes idea has been in effect for years now and parents are NOT called. Amizingly the kids for the most part do not want the parents to know... These rewording of the rules jut gives teeth to the rules - spells everything out so there is no waltzing around them. I live in Paso Robles and our high school was glad to see these changes. I believe the rules will be brought home the first of the school year and the parents and kids will have to sign them as understanding them and the concequences for breaking them. Can you imagine - no flip flops? lol

Our school is small but has a dress code and has had for as long as I can remember.It is strictly enforced and if not the student will wear something given to them by the school to wear all day.Once in a while a student may get sent home but not often.Our school also has a hair and facial hair code.If a high school boy comes to school with facial hair he is given a razor and told to shave it off.Hair can be no longer than the collar of a shirt. No long sideburns,etc.All the rules are given to students to take home at the beginning of the year to be signed and returned so if something comes up there will be no question.As far as I know there has never been a problem.They know what the codes are and they don't question.Personally I think the dress code is a good thing considering the way some kids are allowed to dress now days but I think the hair thing is kind of silly.Showing one's butt crack (or....whatever,LOL) or cleavage is quite different than the length of one's hair or whether or not they have facial hair as long as it's clean and groomed and not some outrageous color or style.

Most of the schools around here have similar policies but I can tell from driving by that they're not enforced. Several of the private schools have policies similar to the one marygailv mentioned. I think it's a great idea. I can't imagine what parents are thinking by letting their kids go out in some of these clothes.

the only way to go is uniforms...it would solve heaps of problems...i've heard of kids mugged just because they wore a "name brand" or fancy coat...

Back in the sixties, each high school student was given a copy of "The Student Handbook" which included the Dress Code. Girls were not allowed slacks or shorts of any kind, no jewelry or makeup, no teased hair, and only skirts, which must be knee length or below. Any teacher had the right to make a girl kneel down, and if her skirt did not touch the floor, she was sent home. Remember, this was in the age of the miniskirt. I wore my skirts just touching the top of my kneecaps, but I was never challenged by anyone to kneel down.

Our small school has a dress code and I know at one time it was enforced but now I'm not so sure. I know of some kids who were sent home or were forced to wear something the school provided. The kid only did it once. Around here they make them put their shirts inside out if it has any advertizing for a place that would sell alcohol. I'm really not against the dress code but ocassionally they do get out of hand and consider something offensive (such as a t-shirt) when I wouldn't think it was offensive at all. But they do learn fast what is acceptable. The only thing I have noticed is they do not get after the girls for low-cut shirts. The girls can't wear the speghetti straps without another shirt over the top but they say nothing about the clevage. Now that's what I'd like to see them take on but I know it will never happen!

My son's high school has a written dress code. It's in the school district's handbook somewhere, which every students receives a copy of every school year; a parent signs and returns the form saying they received it.

Shirts straps have to be at last 2 finger widths wide on the shoulders. Skirts and shorts can be no shorter than 5" above the knee (they'll check it with and index card). No underclothes can show on boys or girls. No hoods/hats. No flannel pants. But there is clearly no rule on how low cut a shirt can be! I'd like to see that one added next year. It just makes me cringe they amount of cleavage girls show at school, or even anywhere for that matter. If they would just write and enforce that one, I would be satisfied with the way kids' at this high school dress. Lower than the standards I grew up with, but I'm still OK with it. I sub there, and would even like to teach there full time in another year. I just really think the low cut shirts are inappropriate, and more offensive than some of the other issues that are enforced.

Stephanie (who has switched her 8 y/o DD to organic milk in hopes that she won't have any cleavage before she's 18 LOL Just like her mother.)

Our middle and high schools do this. They have to change into those "Goodwill clothes" if they wear the wrong clothes. Consequences work wonders.

They brought back a dress code in our schools here about three years ago. It is working out nicely.

The kids can wear shorts but they have to be as long as to where the tip if the fingers hang. No bare middle. No sleeveless shirts. Skirts have to be as long as the finger tips and wear a pair of shorts under them.

No one seems to fight it...I think all the parents here were ready for some positive changes.

patti