Students urged to wear specific colors and clothes on certain days in Texas district
A Texas school district is recommending its students follow a dress code schedule ahead of the upcoming academic year.
In what is described as “standardized attire,” DeSoto Independent School District hopes students will adhere to the following daily-dress recommendations:
Mondays — Gold Day (gold polo shirts with khakis or jeans)
Tuesdays — Green Day (green polo shirts with khakis or jeans)
Wednesdays — Professional Day (blazers, ties, cardigans and sweater vests)
Thursdays — College and Career Day (ex. university shirts with khakis or jeans)
Fridays — Spirit Day (district or campus shirt with jeans or khakis)
“The above-listed recommended student dress days are not required dress for students,” administration said in a July 7 update. “However, student participation in standardized dress is highly recommended and are offered to provide a framework for student community, pride, and belongingness.”
This updated dress code follows recommendations from spring semester focus groups and surveys, according to a Facebook post from the district.
Administration says the dress code will be presented to the school board during its next meeting, which is scheduled for July 25.
DeSoto ISD, with about 8,700 students, is about 15 miles south of Dallas. Nearly 75% of its students are African-American, about 20% are Hispanic and nearly 2% are white.
‘Confusion and division’
The post shared to Facebook prompted mixed reactions from DeSoto ISD families. While some appreciate a required uniform is not being enforced, others fear recommended attire will create confusion and bullying.
“Thank you for listening and honoring the feedback received from The Focus Groups,” one parent wrote. “My children always adhered to the dress code and will continue to do so. They will freely express themselves by wearing what they choose within the guidelines we enforce in our home and within the Districts dress code.”
“This decision makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO sense. Why make ‘recommendations’ if it is not required dress?” another commented. “ ... NOONE is going to voluntarily forego their wardrobe freedom (at the levels to which this standard is supposed to help) to wear these clothes if they don’t have to. Not one single parent is going to buy clothes to add to clothes their child has if it is unnecessary.”
“I appreciate the counsel for allowing us to express our concerns and make a great decision to not make uniforms mandatory,” a parent said. “Let’s focus on the real issue, parents not being involved, community parenting, and enforcement of the current dress code.”
“This decision just explains nobody is on the same page,” one person commented. “The kids that parents make wear the uniforms will be picked on.”
“Once again leadership has not made a decision,” said another. “Either you have an enforced uniform dress code or you don’t. This recommendation for uniforms will just cause more confusion and division.”
The dress code
While the “standardized attire” is only being recommended, the district also has an enforced dress code in place.
“The district’s dress code teaches grooming and hygiene, prevents disruption, minimizes safety hazards, and maintains a positive learning climate,” administration said. “Students and parents may determine a student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply ...”
Students can still wear T-shirts, dresses and shorts, for example. Tank tops, leggings and bottoms shorter than 2 inches above the top of the knee are banned.
“If the principal determines that a student’s grooming or clothing violates the school’s dress code, the student will be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school and return to the classroom,” the policy states. “If the problem cannot be corrected at school, the principal will work with the student and parent to obtain an acceptable change of clothing for the student in a way that minimizes loss of instructional time.”
Repeated or severe dress code offenses may lead to “more serious disciplinary action.”
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