FFH-AP: Student Dress Code

A safe and inclusive learning environment is essential to a quality educational program. District-wide standards on student attire are intended to help students concentrate on schoolwork, reduce discipline problems, and improve school order and safety. The district recognizes that students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance; however, students shall not wear apparel that is deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school.

No student should be affected by dress code enforcement because of racial identity, sex assigned at birth, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size/type, or body maturity.

Any student deemed in violation of the dress code shall be required to change into their own appropriate clothing if available at the school, be provided with temporary school clothing, or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to school to wear for the remainder of the day.

Enforcement should be consistent with the WFPS behavior matrix.

STUDENTS MUST WEAR

• A shirt (with fabric in the front, back, and on the sides under the arms, and connected over the shoulders), and
• Pants/jeans or the equivalent (for example, a skirt, sweatpants, leggings, a dress, or shorts), and
  Shoes
• *Weather appropriate clothing/outerwear during winter weather conditions (K - 5)

STUDENTS MAY WEAR

• Head coverings: Hat/hood must allow the full face to be visible to staff and not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff and does not distract and/or disrupt the learning environment.
• Religious headwear 

STUDENTS WILL NOT WEAR

The following items are not acceptable in school buildings, on school grounds, or at school activities:

• Any item that obscures the face (except as religious observance)
• Any clothing that bares or exposes traditionally private parts of the body including, but not limited to, the buttocks and chest 
• Any advertisements, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that:
• Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons,
  • Are of a sexual nature,
  • Are obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or legally libelous,
  • Threaten the safety or welfare of any person,
  • Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct
  • Is intended to identify the student as a member of a gang which advocates illegal or disruptive behavior, 
  • Otherwise disrupt the teaching-learning process.

EXCEPTIONS

Appropriate athletic clothing may be worn in physical education classes. Clothing normally worn when participating in school-sponsored extracurricular or sports activities (such as cheerleading uniforms and the like) may be worn to school when approved by administration and the sponsor or coach.

The administration has the authority to make reasonable exceptions based on designated school events, medical, disability, religious or cultural purposes.

During certain unexpected or extraordinary circumstances, West Fargo Public Schools may require face coverings to be worn. Plastic face shields are allowable, but ONLY when worn in conjunction with a face covering. When mandatory face covering requirements are lifted, students may still choose to wear a face covering to protect the health of self and others.

Adopted: 05/23/17

Reviewed: 10/12/20

Revised: 08/18/20, 08/03/21

10/14/21, 12/14/21