Over the previous year, feedback was collected from families and community stakeholders on Devine's Standardized Dress Code Policy. As a result of this feedback, policy FNCA (Local) was amended to eliminate the standardized dress requirement.
A new policy for the 2024-2025 academic year was developed in collaboration with community members and school administrators. The new policy narrative can be read below or refer to the linked document to view in chart form.
Dress Code Chart
Dress and Grooming (All Grade Levels)
The district’s dress code teaches grooming and hygiene, prevents disruption, minimizes safety hazards, and maintains a positive learning climate. Research has indicated that student behavior is influenced by student dress and grooming. In order to help ensure proper and acceptable behavior on the part of the student, it becomes necessary to establish certain guidelines to aid parents and students in selecting the proper attire for school wear and provide consistency district-wide.
If the principal or designated administrator determines that a student’s grooming and/or clothing violates the school’s dress code, the student will be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school. Any student who does not comply with the dress code will be removed from the regular school setting until the student complies with this code. If so, attendance recovery hours will be required for all missed classes. Repeated offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
If there are differences of opinion as to the appropriateness of dress, grooming, and/or determining whether or not a student’s attire is disruptive or distracting to the educational environment of the school, the final determination will be made by an administrator. The Dress Code is in effect for students while attending school functions or school-sponsored activities on or off school property. Exceptions to this code for certain school-related events are determined by each administrator.
Regulations shall be established concerning the grooming of students for those classes where safety in the use of power machinery and sanitary conditions in food preparation is mandatory. Students enrolled in these classes shall be informed of those regulations and are expected to conform while in these classes.
Guidelines:
Shirts/Tops must be long enough so as not to expose the midriff during normal school activities, including bending, reaching, sitting and stretching.
Not allowed: muscle, tank, sleeveless, spaghetti straps, mesh/see-through shirts, low necklines, backless shirts, large arm holes (sports jerseys included), spandex, tight-fitting tops
Jeans/pants must be a solid color. Jeans/pants with slits/tears/rips/holes must be worn with tights or leggings underneath to avoid exposing skin. Gaping holes are not permitted. All pant waistbands must be worn securely at the waist, never exposing undergarments. Loungewear such as pajama pants and sweatpants are prohibited. Swimwear/beachwear is prohibited.
Shorts/skorts/skirts/dresses must be a solid color and no shorter than 3 inches above the knee (including the slit) even if tights/leggings are worn underneath. All waistbands must be worn securely at the waist, never exposing undergarments. Cutoff, boxer, and biker/spandex shorts are not permitted.
Footwear which have toes reinforced with steel or hard plastics, taps, cleats, or any type of metal, plastic, or rubber devices which may cause damage to the floor or create a disturbance are specifically prohibited. House shoes, slides, flip flops, and slippers are prohibited. At the elementary and intermediate campuses, only tennis shoes (no wheels in the heel) may be worn.
Headwear such as hats, caps, beanies, and hoods on hooded sweatshirts and jackets may not be worn inside the buildings.
Hair must be neat and clean. Unnatural-colored, spiked, or distracting hair styles are not permitted.
Facial hair must be clean shaven
Undergarments may not be visible or exposed.
Accessories such as headphones, ear pods, leather spiked/studded bands, heavy wallet chains, or stockings on arms or head are prohibited. Sunglasses may not be worn inside the buildings.
Piercings are limited to three earrings. Nose piercings are limited to one stud and excludes all nose hoops, bars and nose rings. Tongue, facial and eyebrow piercings are not permitted. Gauges of any size in the ears are not allowed
Not allowed: tattoos; items that depict drugs, alcohol, gang affiliation, tobacco, weapons, nudity, death, violence, vulgar/obscene language or images, and/or insults to race, religion gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity; heavy chain-like necklaces, spikes, wallet chains, oversized clothing; costumes (unless approved by a school organization); blankets or throws.
Style: The District prohibits any clothing or grooming that, in the principal's judgment, may reasonably be expected to cause disruption of, or interference with normal school operations, or that is determined by the school's principal or designee to be gang-related or, in reasonable probability, would be construed as gang-related. The District prohibits pictures, emblems, or writings that are lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene, or that advertises or depicts tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other substance or paraphernalia prohibited under Policy FNCF (LEGAL/LOCAL).
If the campus administration 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. 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 offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. The final decision as to whether the dress code has been violated rests with campus administration.