Maury County Schools recognizes the effect which student dress and grooming has upon student behavior and commitment to learning. We further recognize the role of parents in assisting their children in making appropriate choices regarding clothing, accessories, and personal appearance. In order to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning and to prepare students for working environments, Maury County Schools requires that all students, grades K-12, exercise good taste with regard to their personal appearance. Attire considered disruptive or risky to health or safety is not appropriate.

With this in mind, the following rules concerning dress and grooming are mandatory to students in elementary, middle and high school grades, beginning with the 2008-2009 school year.

Definition of Standard School Attire Includes the Following:

Acceptable Attire in Maury County Schools

A)     Pants, shorts, capri pants, skirts, skorts, jeans, or jumpers in the colors of navy blue, black or any shade of khaki

B)      Shirts with short or long sleeves and a collar (polo, dress-style with buttons, or turtleneck), in the solid colors of white or navy blue.

C)   All shirts should be properly buttoned and tucked inside pants, shorts, skorts or skirts.

      D)   Individual schools may designate up to four additional solid colors for acceptable styles of

             shirts.

E)       No clothing shall be modified.

F)       School Sponsored shirts may be worn.

General Requirements

1. The Standard School Attire policy will be in effect during the school year, intersession

and summer program.

2. Students will wear clothing of appropriate size.  Appropriate sizes are defined as no more than one size smaller or one size larger than the student’s actual clothing size.  Pants, shorts, capri pants, skorts, jeans, or skirts must fit at the waist and must not sag or bag.

(Sagging is defined as bottom wear being worn below the waistline.)

(Bagging is defined as bottom wear being worn not size appropriate.)

3. The district will not require specific brands of clothing.  No writing is allowed on clothing except logos or manufacturer trademarks which may be no larger than two inches.  Authorized school logos are permitted.

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4. All clothing must be hemmed.  No drawstrings, cut-offs, or rolled-up cuffs are allowed on pants, capri pants, shorts or skirts.

5. Appropriate clothing must cover the student from the shoulders to three inches above the 

knee.

 Bottom Wear

1.      Full-length pants, cropped pants, and straight-legged capri pants are permitted.  Pants, capri

pants, and shorts must be dress style or casual-dress style (e.g., Dockers®).  Jeans and/or pants must be straight-leg or boot-cut.

2.      Pants, shorts, skirts and skorts with elastic waistbands must be worn at the waist and do not require a belt.  All other pants, shorts, skirts and skorts must be worn at the waist, and those with belt loops must be worn with a belt.

3.      Shorts, jumpers, dresses, skirts or skorts must be no shorter than 3” above the top of the knee.

Top Wear

1.      Dresses or shirts with short or long sleeves and a collar (polo, dress-style or turtleneck) in the district- or school-approved solid colors are acceptable.

2.      All blouses and shirts should be properly buttoned and tucked inside pants or skirts.  Chests and midriffs must be covered.

3.      T-shirts with or without sleeves may be worn as undergarments.  They must be solid white, navy blue or one of the additional solid colors approved by the school and may not display any writing, pictures or images.

Foot Wear

1.      Standard Footwear (shoes, boots, athletic shoes, and sandals with or without a thong between the toes) may be worn.

2.      House shoes or skate shoes will not be allowed.

3.      Laces on shoes or sneakers must be tied.

Additional Clothing

A single blazer, suit jacket, vest, sweater, crewneck sweatshirt (with no pockets), cardigan, windbreaker or light jackets are permitted as garments that may be worn over the Standard Attire top.  These garments must be sized according to the General Requirements section of this policy and must not extend below the hips.  The garments must also be in one of the district- or school-approved solid colors and must be worn over a shirt with a collar.

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Special Situations:

1.      Schools may develop and promote special dress for students at the discretion of the school administration (i.e. Homecoming, School Spirit, etc.)

2.      If a student cannot comply with the standardized dress code based on religious beliefs or 

              medical  reasons his or her parent  or guardian may write a letter explaining the situation to the

              school principal with a copy to the Director of Schools.  Approval or denial will be determined on

              an individual case-by-case basis.

       3.   Principals will have the authority to approve occasional variations from Standard School

             Attire for particular groups of students.  For example, athletic team members or

            cheerleaders may wear their sports-top layered over a collared or turtleneck shirt, or

             members of school clubs may wear club-related or school-sponsored T-shirts over a collared

             or turtleneck shirt.  Such attire will be tucked in at the waist whenever practical as determined

             by the principal.  Standard Attire pants, shorts, shirts, capri pants or skorts must be worn at

             all times.

Standard School Attire Prohibitions

1.      “Cargo” shorts or pants, or hooded garments are not permissible. 

This restriction does not apply to after-school activities such as athletic events.

2.      Blouses or shirts without buttons along the front opening are not acceptable as the primary Standard Attire shirt.

3.      No bare midriffs are allowed, and tops will not reveal cleavage.

4.      Ripped, cut, or torn clothing is prohibited.  In addition, no see-through or clothing with holes may be worn.

5.      Coats may be worn entering or exiting of the building.  Coats shall not be worn in the classroom during the day.  The administration will announce exceptions to the guidelines if facilities indicate the need.

6.      Logos or manufacturers’ trademarks with writing or images of substances that are illegal for teens (i.e., drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products) or are otherwise offensive, lewd, indecent, vulgar, obscene, profane, gang-related or constitute racial or ethnic slurs may not be worn.

7.      Writings, symbols, or logos may not be vulgar, obscene, or disruptive to the school environment or derogatory to any individual or group.  (including but not limited to scrolling belt buckles).

8.      Chains, spiked accessories and belt buckles with concealed weapons are not permissible.  Belts may not hang down as a “tail” from the belt loop.

9.      Any type of  clothing or personal item bearing reference to alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, drugs, drug-related slogans, and/or any other wording, drawing, pictures, logos, etc., which in any way can be interpreted as being suggestive, obscene, or offensive, such as references to death, the occult, Satanism, etc., is not allowed.

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10.  “Gang” related slogans, names, apparel, etc., are not allowed.

11.  Tatoos shall be covered.

12.  All students are required to wear their hair in such a manner that is not considered unkempt, unclean, or impairing vision.  Hair sprayed or dyes in unnatural colors (such as blue, pink, green, yellow, etc…) spiked hair or Mohawk will not be allowed.

13.  Hats, bandanas, hoods worn on head, sweatbands, curlers, rollers, gloves or sunglasses will not be allowed except for medical reasons.

     14.  Jewelry ornaments or accessories which distract from the educational process or which present a safety concern will not be allowed.  Body-piercing jewelry or accessories are not allowed except to the ears.

     15.  Extreme facial makeup that is disruptive to the educational environment will not be allowed.

Standard School Attire Provisions

1.    Students participating in the JROTC program of their school may wear their JROTC uniform on days designated by the school.

2.    Approved head coverings worn as a part of a student’s bona fide religious practices or beliefs

            shall not be prohibited under this policy.

STUDENTS DRESSED INAPPROPRIATELY WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES AS PER BOARD POLICY 6.300.

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Legal Reference:

     TCA 49-6-4215

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