News Release
From the Office of Public Relations
972.923.4631
For Immediate Release
Date: September 28, 2007
For More Information
Contact: Nicole Mansell, Director of
Public Relations, 972.923.4631
Waxahachie ISD Gives
Update on Secondary T-shirt Guidelines in Dress Code
In May 2007, changes to the Waxahachie
ISD’s secondary dress code were implemented with four
primary goals in mind. Included in these
goals was the importance of providing a safe and orderly learning environment
for all students, to decrease the number of student dress code infractions for
the 2007-2008 school year and to encourage professional and responsible dress
for all students.
After an extended period of
information gathering that included traveling to other local school districts
to review dress uniform policies, reviewing data from a past community survey
and campus and staff feedback and survey results, changes were made to the
secondary dress code and approved by the Board of Trustees.
Some of the revisions to the secondary
dress code include changes in policy with regards to pants, shirts, and
t-shirts. Recently, some questions have
been raised with regards to the new t-shirt guidelines. The secondary dress code policy
prohibits t-shirts or other clothing that contains writing of any kind, with
the exception that school and education-related t-shirts are permitted. For
example, wording on a t-shirt that states “Dallas Cowboys” would be prohibited.
Our District has found that a student dress code requiring solid colored
t-shirts and collared shirts enhances discipline and reduces distractions to
the learning environment.
The District also values student speech rights, and prior to
the beginning of this school year initiated a process to develop a policy to
expand student expression opportunities by creating a limited public forum for
student expression during the school day. Our students are free to
express themselves through the wearing of buttons or other symbols, forming a
school sponsored club, and speaking at limited public forum opportunities
available during the school day. Our schools, however, are not unbounded
forums for practicing student speech, and our primary focus remains creating
and maintaining an environment conducive to learning. It is important to note, that principals have been given the authority
to hold special t-shirt dress days throughout the school year, and students are
encouraged to talk with their principals about ideas for special t-shirt dress
days.
Waxahachie ISD firmly believes that a
safe and orderly learning environment is the key to a successful school year.
It is the goal of WISD for all students, parents, teachers and administrators
to work together to assume responsibility for complying with the new secondary
dress code. For more information on the 2007-2008 secondary dress code policy, please
contact the WISD Office of Public Relations at 972.923.4631.