We, the parents and students, are petitioning the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education to make changes to the current school dress codes. Dress codes are meant to create safe, positive learning environments in schools, but too many of them have the opposite effect, shaming students, robbing them of instructional time, and disproportionately targeting female students and students of color. The general guidelines for students, in particular females, are unrealistic, arbitrarily enforced, and unfair. 

Dress codes vary by school, even at the same grade level, and that causes confusion as well as stress and anxiety for students and parents. Calling students out for dress code violations has a negative impact on class time, self esteem and relationship building with teachers and administrators.

Since stylish and appropriate clothing that meets the current dress code is often difficult or impossible to find, our daughters report that they feel forced to wear long pants and jeans even in 90-100 degree weather (very common in Alabama) simply to avoid being embarrassed or penalized for a clothing choice.

Not only is this very uncomfortable, but it promotes victim blaming and negative or distorted body imaging and makes our children feel less empowered during an age when they are already emotionally vulnerable. Research shows that people with negative body images have a greater likelihood of developing eating disorders and are more likely to suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem, and obsessions with weight loss. All are legitimate concerns when it comes to the safety, health and well being of our students.

We are asking that the school board and district revise the current dress code and consider involving parents and students in the conversation with the use of parent advisory boards or student task forces dedicated specifically to this cause. This is an opportunity for our community to come together and for our district to show a true display of leadership through open communication and dialogue with the goal of creating a "Dress Code Philosophy" that gives students freedom from stress and anxiety and empowers our daughters and sons to learn and feel safe and comfortable at school.  By adopting a Dress Code Philosophy we believe that our students and staff will be clear on The City Of Tuscaloosa's values as well as what our dress code is designed to accomplish. 

Example:

"Dress Code Philosophy:

Tuscaloosa City School’s student dress code should support equitable educational access and be written in a manner that does not reinforce stereotypes. To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of this dress code, school staff shall enforce the dress code consistently and in a manner that does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income or body type/size.

Our values are:

● All students should be able to dress comfortably for school and engage in the educational environment without fear of or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming.

● Student dress code enforcement should not result in unnecessary barriers to school attendance.

 ● School staff should be well versed and able to use student/body-positive language to explain the code and to address code violations.

● Teachers should focus on teaching without the additional and often uncomfortable burden of dress code enforcement.

● Reasons for conflict and inconsistent and/or inequitable discipline should be minimized whenever possible.

Our student dress code is designed to accomplish several goals:

● Maintain a safe learning environment in classes where protective or supportive clothing is needed, such as chemistry/biology (eye or body protection), dance (bare feet, tights/leotards), or PE (athletic attire/shoes).

 ● Allow students to wear clothing of their choice that is comfortable.

 ● Allow students to wear clothing that expresses their self-identified gender.

● Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories with offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, and pornography.

 ● Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories that denote, suggest, display or reference alcohol, drugs or related paraphernalia or other illegal conduct or activities.

● Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories that will interfere with the operation of the school, disrupt the educational process, invade the rights of others, or create a reasonably foreseeable risk of such interference or invasion of rights.

● Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories that reasonably can be construed as being or including content that is racist, lewd, vulgar or obscene, or that reasonably can be construed as containing fighting words, speech that incites others to imminent lawless action, defamatory speech, or threats to others.

● Ensure that all students are treated equitably regardless of race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income or body type/size.

1. Basic Principle:

Certain body parts must be covered for all students at all times. Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, breasts, cleavage, and nipples are fully covered with opaque fabric. 

2. Students Must Wear*, while following the basic principle of Section 1 above:

● A Shirt (with fabric in the front, back, and on the sides under the arms), AND

● Pants/jeans or the equivalent (for example, a skirt, sweatpants, leggings, a dress or shorts), AND

 ● Shoes.

*Courses that include attire as part of the curriculum (for example, professionalism, public speaking, and job readiness) may include assignment-specific dress, but should not focus on covering bodies in a particular way or promoting culturally-specific attire. Activity-specific shoes requirements are permitted (for example, athletic shoes for PE).