We, students of The Palmdale Aerospace Academy (TPAA), are demanding that the school administration and board of directors to reconsider and change the current 2026-2027 student dress code policy and its disciplinary consequences.

Understandably, the school wants to maintain a safe, respectful, and professional learning environment. However, we believe that the current policy is unnecessarily restrictive, limits students' individuality, creates financial burdens for families who have to purchase an entire new wardrobe for their student or students, and imposes punishments that are excessive for a clothing violation. 

1st Offense:   Students will be assigned loaner clothing and/or shoes for the day, based on availability.
A phone call will be made to the parent/guardian to notify them of the dress code violation.

2nd Offense: Students will be assigned loaner clothing and/or shoes for the day, based on availability.
An administrator-parent/guardian-student conference will be scheduled.
The Academy reserves the right to remove any student who fails to comply with the dress code policy from an extracurricular activity.

3rd or Subsequent Offenses: Students will be assigned loaner clothing and/or shoes for the day, based on availability.
An administrator-parent/guardian-student conference will be scheduled.
The Academy reserves the right to remove any student who fails to comply with the dress code policy from an extracurricular activity.
Age-appropriate loss of privileges may be assigned.

The current dress code requires students to wear specific polo shirts with limited colors,  limits acceptable pants to dark wash, prohibits athletic pants and leggings, and even to the extreme length of limiting SHOE LACE COLORS!

We absolutely believe these restrictions are excessive and unnecessary!

Clothing is one of the most common ways that students express their personalities, creativity, and individuality. Restricting these choices does not automatically improve student behavior or academic performance.

TPAA encourages its stakeholders (students) to design, create, and explore. We believe students should be allowed reasonable freedom to express themselves while maintaining appropriate standards for the learning environment.

THE COLOR AND TYPE OF A STUDENT'S JEANS, SHIRT, OR SHOELACES DOES NOT DETERMINE THEIR INTELLIGENCE, CHARACTER,  OR ABILITY TO LEARN!!!!!!!!!!

Now, students attend school to receive an education, develop important skills, and prepare for their futures.

A school's  attention and priority should be focused on academic achievement, student safety, respectful behavior, student, staff, and  campus well-being rather than clothing violations.

"It’s a valid question to ask, why are we being asked to follow this dress code in the first place. What suddenly changed to make you guys decide to implement it in the first place. It is clear that it wasn’t the teachers who wanted this, it wasn’t the campus sups who wanted this, and it obviously wasn’t the students. No one else interacts with these students like the people I named, and when we deal with student issues we need to consult the people who it affects. The dress code makes it difficult for students to feel comfortable in their own skin, and clearly some of the staff too, a majority of them do not follow dress code. And it has also made the staffs job harder, they have to dress code every little detail due to this extremely strict rule. They have to deal with the backlash of students for a rule they don’t even want to follow. If you look at our school you would see it isn’t working, so why enforce it harder. I get having a dress code, but this one is far too extreme for these students and staff. If you actually payed attention to our needs you would know that. No one wants this dress code except you guys. If you care about the school, you can see that this stricter dress code is not working. " -Diego Narez 

"The dress code isn’t absurd but, I think it is harsh in the fact no designs or patterns are allowed even if the dress shirt or “polo” is still collared. Furthermore the dress code does not specifically state that no designs or decals are allowed. The issue isn’t students do not care for a dress code, it is that the dress code is too strict with some students such as myself still not receiving the uniforms that have been ordered from and through the school that my own family and others have paid for. Along with this there are larger concerns within the school than the dress code and the admin seems to take priority in a small issue rather than addressing the teachers pay, and other larger disciplinary issues. I feel the students of the school and so do the teachers have a not only a constitutional right but a necessary duty to protest and speak out about these issues however we may please without any prejudice or harmful intent directed towards anyone. I feel the admin should be investigated and replaced with leaders that not only reflect the values of the majority of the students but, will also be more transparent and proactive about issues going on within the school itself. " -Santiago 

"I don’t think the 2026–2027 TPAA dress code is completely fair because students should be allowed to express themselves through their clothing while still dressing appropriately for school. Some rules feel too strict and unnecessary. For example, one of the rules about the dress code is the color, why does the color matter if we proceed to wear the dress code despite the color of our polos and jeans. Also, not every family can afford to buy polos, even though the school provides some. This could make students who cannot afford them feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or left out compared to other students. No student should have to feel ashamed because of their family’s financial situation. I believe the dress code should be removed from our school, removing the dress code would help us students feel more comfortable in the clothing we wear to school. Our school should focus more on students education, respect, and behavior rather than putting too many restrictions and rules on their clothing" -Anonymous

"A school is supposed to be a safe place where we can learn and grow into who we are, but how can we feel safe or valued when we're forced to hide behind identical uniforms? Clothing isn't just fabric it's how we express our identities, our moods, and our individuality. When a policy forces every student to look the same, it sends the message that conformity matters more than our comfort or our mental well-being. We aren't robots we are unique individuals, and we deserve the freedom to feel comfortable in our own skin and clothes." -Anonymous

"I think it is extremely unfair that our school seems to put more attention and effort into enforcing a dress code than addressing serious situations happening to students on campus. How can we be so concerned about the color of someone’s shirt or whether they are wearing a polo when there are students reaching out for help because another student may be experiencing abuse, and their concerns are seemingly being ignored? Students should never have to question whether their safety matters to the administration. A dress code should not be more important than the well-being and protection of the students who attend this school. We need an administration that listens to us, takes our concerns seriously, and shows that student safety comes before clothing rules. We are students, not just people who need to be told what to wear. Our voices deserve to be heard." - Stephanie Duarte

How are you going to tell us what colors we can and cannot wear? And are you guys also planning on buying us the clothes in the approved colors? Because hello? Since when do you get to dictate every little thing about how we express ourselves? And how exactly is it a woman’s fault when a MAN has a disgusting mindset? Why are women being held responsible for how men choose to think? How are light blue pants affecting anyone? What is wrong with ripped jeans? Are they suddenly not “professional” enough for you? You know what actually isn’t professional? The constant fighting and division that have happened ever since YOU became our principals. Maybe focus on the problems that are actually happening at this school instead of making our clothing the biggest issue. And while we’re at it, what about the abuse and unhealthy relationship situations that students have brought up? Why is there so much resistance to making changes in areas that genuinely matter? You are doing WAY too much. Your rules are making students not even want to come to school, participate in spirit days, show school spirit, or simply be themselves. We aren’t “provocative.” We’re teenagers with our own personalities, styles, and trends. We’re allowed to express ourselves without everything being turned into something inappropriate. I guarantee that when you were in high school, you had trends, wanted to dress a certain way, and wanted to express yourself, too. So why is it suddenly a problem when we do it? You are so focused on controlling how we look that you’re completely overlooking how your actions are affecting the students you’re supposed to be supporting. If you actually want students to respect you, like you, and feel comfortable at this school, then STEP IT UP. Start listening to us instead of constantly finding new things to criticize. Honestly, I’m more concerned about the mindset behind these rules than I am about a pair of ripped jeans or light blue pants. WE ARE TEENAGERS. What exactly do you expect from us? To all dress the same, have no personality, and never question anything? Because at this point, it feels less like you’re trying to create a professional school environment and more like you’re trying to control every aspect of our lives. And there’s a difference." -Kayli Gonzalez

These are only six of the 200+ student responses there are.

All students of TPAA are coming together to send a strong message to those who articulate the rules that affect us: PUT YOUR PEOPLE OVER YOUR POLICY!!!

For years since school has started after the Covid-19 Pandemic, TPAA has faced , many problems that have still to this day have not been addressed. Robbery and damage of school property, fights to the point staff have been injured in, disrespect toward teachers and staff, low test scores, poor grades, smoking to the point of fire alarms being set off!

For years bathrooms are sometimes if not always out of toilet paper, soap, paper towels, stall door locks being broken, stall walls being broken, and bathrooms always have a strong smell of urine.

Students have now been disrespectful toward educators and other staff members. Test scores have been very low, grades have been very low to the point many students have had to unenroll out of TPAA To make up credits at other schools.

Constant smoking in bathrooms has led to fire alarms being set off. Bathrooms have even come to have a strong smell of marijuana.

There have even been reports of abuse and threats of violence reported to Ms. Anna Fisk and what has been done? NOTHING! It seems that TPAA leadership care more about a dress code policy than any problem that has been presented to them. 

We, the students of The Palmdale Aerospace Academy demand that its administration and board of directors make the following changes:

Remove Extracurricular Punishments such as students being removed from sports, clubs, and school dances just because of the shirt or pair of pants they wear.

Allow clothing flexibility, permitting appropriate everyday clothing, including athletic pants, leggings, and jeans of different colors, styles, and washes as long as the meet reasonable standards of appropriateness and safety. Allowing shirts that students want to wear as long as they do not promote any sort of gang related activity, violence, hate, or are offensive or revealing in any way.

Relax the unnecessary restrictions of clothing colors, shoelaces, and other minor details that do not interfere with education.

Establishing fair  disciplinary consequences that replace excessive punishments with reasonable corrective measures that focus on communication, understanding, and equality rather than excluding students from school activities.

Consider the financial circumstances of the families of students that are unfairly burdened by requirements to purchase specific clothing.

Include student voices, allowing representatives to participate in discussions and decisions regarding future dress code policies.

We are not asking TPAA to eliminate all rules and or expectations regarding student clothing. We are asking for a dress code that is reasonable, fair, and inclusive.

We believe that we students should be able to attend school feeling comfortable, respected, and confident without worrying that minor clothing choices could result in an excessive consequence.

A school should encourage students to succeed, express their individuality, and participate in opportunities that prepare them for their futures. 

OUR education should be defined by what we learn, what we achieve, and the hard work and effort we put forward, and the character we demonstrate, not by the shirt, jeans, or shoes we wear to school.

By signing the "Policy Over People Protest" petition, we express our support for revising the 2026-2027 TPAA Student Dress Code and establishing fairer, more reasonable disciplinary policies.

We respectfully urge the administration and school board of directors to listen to student concerns and take meaningful action toward creating a more balanced and fair dress code for every student at TPAA. 

Sincerely, 

The Concerned Students of The Palmdale Aerospace Academy

By signing this petition, I support the requests outlined above to revise the current student dress code and its  disciplinary consequences.