HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 628 SCO - Student Dress Code -1- PR.628.SCO
PROCEDURE PR.628.SCO
TITLE: STUDENT DRESS CODE
Date issued: 24 August 2001
Last revised: 31 May 2022
Authorization: Senior Staff: 20 June 2001
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To provide the standards for the District Dress code for students and address its violations,
and to establish the parameters for club, team, and class uniforms, as well School Uniforms,
where requested.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
In this procedure,
2.1 Board means the Board of Trustees.
2.2 Body-shaming means the practice of humiliating, expressing mockery or criticism
about a person's body shape or size.
2.3 Dress shall be interpreted to include clothing, footwear, hairstyle, makeup, jewelry,
fashion, style, or personal protective equipment required for some classes.
2.4 District means the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
2.5 OCDSB Environment means Board property, school buses, virtual learning and
working environment, electronic media, school or work -authorized events or activities, in
before- and after-school programs including co-curricular activities and field trips,and
may include any other circumstances that may have an impact on the school or work
climate.
2.6 Progressive Discipline means a whole-school approach to promoting and fostering
positive behaviours which utilizes a continuum of prevention programs, interventions,
strategies, supports, and consequences to address student misconduct.
2.7 School Uniform means the specific items of clothing which are required to be worn by
students while attending a particular school and/or the school-related events where the
school has adopted a school wide School Uniform code.
-2- PR.628.SCO
3.0 RESPONSIBILITY
3.1 The school principal is responsible for:
a) adopting this procedure as the school Dress code;
b) making a determination as to whether student Dress represents a contravention
of this procedure;
c) addressing requests for Dress related accommodations based on any of the
protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code or body type/size, in
accordance with applicable procedures;
d) ensuring that all club, team or class uniforms are consistent with the Dress
standard established in this procedure; and
e) consulting with the school council and school community, including students,
throughout the process of instituting a student School Uniform Dress code, where
applicable.
3.2 School staff are responsible for:
a) educating students about the student Dress code;
b) communicating specific requirements for student Dress where there are health
and safety requirements related to the use of equipment and/or activities; and
c) reporting Dress code violations in a non -discriminatory manner.
3.3 The school council is responsible for:
a) consulting with the school community, including students, where a student
School Uniform Dress code is contemplated; and
b) where a student School Uniform Dress code is established, ensuring equity and
affordability issues are addressed in partnership with the principal.
4.0 PROCEDURES
Application and Scope
4.1 This procedure applies to all students in the OCDSB Environment.
4.2 The implementation of this procedure must always be consistent with:
a) the Human Rights Code and OCDSB Policy P.147.GOV Human Rights; and
b) the OCDSB Procedure PR.696.SCO Fostering Gender Identity, Gender
Expression, and Sexual Orientation Inclusive Schools .
Student Dress Standards
4.3 All students have the right to express themselves through their Dress without fear of
Body-shaming, bias, or discrimination.
4.4 Student Dress must:
-3- PR.628.SCO
a) cover the groin, buttocks and nipples with material that is not see-through or
transparent;
b) include more than underwear as the only layer of clothing;
c) include footwear with consideration for health and safety;
d) ensure that the student’s face is not fully obscured;
e) not include wording or graphics that reasonably could be construed as promoting
or symbolizing hate or discrimination, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, Cannabis, illegal
activity, profanity, nudity, pornography; or that incites violence or harassment; or
threatens health and safety; and
f) comply with the School Uniform code if one is established.
4.5 Students must comply with all health and safety related Dress requirements associated
with a particular class or school activity. This may include, but is not limited to
restrictions regarding footwear, loose clothing, personal protective equipment, or ot her
specialized equipment specific to the activity.
Request for Accommodation
4.6 Requests for accommodation may be submitted to the principal and when there is a
duty to accommodate accommodation will be provided, to the point of undue hardship.
4.7 The principal will consider requests for accommodation on student Dress on a case-by-
case basis, in a timely manner, and will collaborate with the student and/or their
parent/guardian throughout the process.
4.8 The principal will provide the student and/or their parent or guardian with the final
decision.
Contraventions of the Dress Code
4.9 Any discussions with students about Dress code, including Dress code contraventions,
shall be done in a way that preserves the student's dignity and self-respect.
4.10 Where a student is considered to be in contravention of the Dress requirement of this
procedure, the student may be:
a) asked to change, remove, or cover the clothing item that violates this procedure;
b) asked to wear the required personal protective equipment, when applicable; or
c) sent home to get a change of clothes only if this will not result in missing
instructional time.
4.11 All student Dress contraventions will be addressed consistently and equitably, with
consideration for the student’s race, age, ability, sex, gender identity, gender
expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, socio -economic
circumstances, and/or body type/size, with consideration of context for the acti vity.
-4- PR.628.SCO
4.12 Where a student demonstrates persistent or blatant non-compliance with the Dress
code requirements, corrective action will be taken along the Progressive Discipline
continuum.
4.13 Where suspension is being considered as part of the Progressive Discipline, the
principal shall consult with the Superintendent of Instruction prior to making a decision
to suspend a student in relation to Dress code.
School Uniform
4.14 Where there is interest in establishing a student School Uniform, the principal will work
in partnership with the students, the school council, and community to develop a student
School Uniform Dress code. This must fully address the following:
a) the issue of affordability and equity of access and expression for families of
children attending the school is addressed;
b) a participative and inclusive process for parent/guardian, student and staff
consultation is developed;
c) a fair and equitable decision and imple mentation timeline is developed; and
d) a fair and equitable process is developed for ensuring that the decision to
implement a School Uniform Dress code has the approval of a majority of at least
85% of the families of students currently registered at the sc hool, on the basis of
one parent/guardian, or a student having reached the age of majority, vote per
family.
4.15 Uniforms for clubs or teams or for School Uniforms will be purchased through a District
approved vendor in accordance with Board procurement polici es.
4.16 A decision regarding student School Uniforms, once made, may be revisited after three
school years have passed.
Communication
4.17 The student Dress code, including expectations and consequences for non -compliance,
must be provided to each student, parent o r guardian, at the beginning of each school
year and whenever a student registers at the school.
4.18 Education of students about Dress code must include topics of harassment,
discrimination, sexism, human rights, and diversity in order to minimize the need f or
monitoring student Dress to the minimal extent possible and to encourage a safe,
respectful learning environment.
5.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memoranda (PPM) 128
OCDSB Policy P.014.SCO School Councils
OCDSB Policy P.026.SCO Student Suspension and Expulsion
OCDSB Policy P.125.SCO School District Code of Conduct
OCDSB Policy P.147.SCO Human Rights
OCDSB Procedure PR.515.SCO Student Suspension and Expulsion
OCDSB Procedure PR.586.CUR Religious Holy Days
-5- PR.628.SCO
OCDSB Procedure PR.696.SCO Fostering Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sexual
Orientation Inclusive Schools
/!-- This code was added to remove the metadata from document view in Weblink -->