Socrates Academy's students wear hoodies every day, as do many students across the country. At the 3/12/25 Board of Director's (BOD) Meeting, the Socrates Academy BOD voted to ban this common piece of attire from the dress code starting with the 2025-2026 academic year. Parents on that call were prohibited from speaking or voicing any concern about this policy change. This decision without input from the majority of Socrates Academy families or students has numerous ramifications:

1. It negatively impacts the student culture and strips them of their right to express themselves. A 2019 study by the National Education Trust states that a comfortable student is a focused student, and for many, wearing a hoodie is a key part of feeling relaxed and ready to learn.
   
   
2. Financial hardships - many families can't afford to buy new sweatshirts or patches
   
   
3. Bait and switch - families have purchased brand new hoodies to support the school this school year in good faith only to recently discover their money has literally been wasted.
   
   
4. The administration cites behavioral issues as one of the reasons for this change. Address these behavioral issues. Don't punish the other students.
   
   
5. Parents and students continue to be dismissed and unheard.

We believe that this ban is unnecessary and does more harm than good. It also continues to perpetuate what is becoming an increasingly negative dynamic at the school. Join us in urging Socrates Academy's administration & its Board of Directors to overturn this restrictive ban and restore our children's freedom to wear hoodies. Please sign and support our cause and share with both students and other parents.

All signatures will ONLY be seen by the petition organizer and will not be viewed by the school.