Turlock Unified approves gender-neutral dress code policy crafted with student input
Trustees for Turlock Unified School District approved a new, gender-neutral dress code Tuesday evening designed to make school clothing rules more equitable.
All trustees except Mary Jackson voted in support. Trustee Jeffrey Cortinas was absent.
The policy marks the first time school officials sought student input on a dress code, director of student services Gil Ogden said.
“It was really an inclusive process,” he said.
School officials revised the dress code over the summer after high-schoolers protested the former policy for disproportionately punishing female students.
Forums at all six middle and high schools gave students, staff and administrators space to share their thoughts on the purpose a dress code should serve and give feedback on details.
The policy outlines basic principles that encourage students to “dress in a manner that is comfortable and conducive to an active school day” and “wear clothing without fear of or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming.”
It requires shoes, tops with straps, bottoms that cover buttocks and secured clothing that “protects and covers personal body parts.”
In a change, students are allowed to wear hats, including hoodies. Students may also choose to wear pajamas, spaghetti straps and crop tops.
Rules for gang-related apparel will be determined by the schools and reviewed at least once a semester.
Students aren’t allowed to wear clothes depicting violent language or images, drugs or alcohol, hate speech, profanity and pornography. They can’t wear clothes that could be a physical safety threat to students or staff, and clothing can’t be see-through.
Staff will be trained in several areas on how to enforce the policy with the “least impact on student learning and self-confidence.” For example, the policy instructs staff to avoid body shaming students for violating the code by refraining from measuring or commenting on particulars of the students’ attire.
When explaining a violation, staff should use body-positive language, the policy says.
One trustee votes no
Mary Jackson was the sole trustee to vote no. In a board meeting Sept. 21, Jackson said she wasn’t comfortable allowing spaghetti straps, crop tops and pajamas. She said she wanted every student to graduate and know how to dress for an interview.
“We need to be able to set a bar,” Jackson said. “I don’t feel like the bar is set with this.”
Other trustees said they appreciated the new policy and its reflection of student and parent voices. The policy will take effect next week, replacing an interim policy implemented at the start of this school year.
The full policy can be found in item I of the consent calendar in the Oct. 5 board agenda.
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
