Dress Code 2022-23

Santa Fe Public Schools student dress code supports equitable educational access for all students. We acknowledge students as individuals and students’ dress should respect the District’s intent and responsibility to ensure the health, safety and mental well-being of all students. Administrators are to be focused on behaviors that undermine the educational process more so than on student dress.

Santa Fe Public Schools expects that all students will dress in a way that is appropriate for the school day or for any school-sponsored event.  The primary responsibility for student’s attire resides with the student and their parent(s) or guardian(s).  Administrators shall use reasonableness and have the discretion to determine the appropriateness of attire.  They may make special exceptions for students with a documented health condition or disability.

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.

Teachers are empowered to ensure appropriate dress given the variations in their classroom environments.

Basic Dress Code

  1. Certain body parts must be covered for all students at all times. Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, breasts and navel are fully covered with fabric that is not able to be seen through.

  2. Students Must Wear:

    A shirt (with fabric in the front, back and on the sides under the arms), AND pants, dresses  or equivalent (i.e. a skirt, sweatpants, leggings or shorts), AND shoes (safe and appropriate for the weather, course assignments, athletic and other conditions)

    IDs in high schools.

  3. Students May Wear:

    Hoodies

    In K-5, K-6, K-8 and middle schools:

    Hoods are not allowed to be worn on students’ heads in school buildings, but they are allowed to be worn outdoors. In comprehensive high schools (Capital and Santa Fe High Schools) and alternative high schools:

    Hoods are allowed to be worn on students’ heads on campus, but in school classrooms only at the discretion of the classroom teacher

    Hats

    In K-5, K-6, K-8 and middle schools:

    Hats are allowed to be worn on students’ heads on campus, but not in school classrooms

    In comprehensive high schools (Capital and Santa Fe High Schools) and alternative high schools

    Hats are allowed to be worn on students’ heads on campus, but in school classrooms only at the discretion of the classroom teacher

    Sunglasses are not allowed indoors and only allowed outdoors.

     

  4. Students Cannot Wear the Following Clothing or Accessories:

  • With offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, pornography, misandry  or misogyny

  • That denote, suggest, display or reference alcohol, drugs or related paraphernalia or other illegal conduct or activities

  • 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

  • That reasonably can be construed as being or including content that is racist, lewd, vulgar or obscene

  • That reasonably can be construed as containing fighting words, speech that incites others to imminent lawless action, defamatory speech or threats to others

  • That reveal visible undergarment

  • That could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon

  • Conceal the face (except as a religious observance)

Dress Code Enforcement

School staff shall enforce the dress code respectfully and consistently using the requirements below.  No student shall be denied attendance at school for failing to abide by the dress code.

Students will only be removed from spaces, hallways or classrooms as a result of a dress code violation if students are in violation of Section 1 and/or 4. Students in violation of Section 1 and/or 4 will be provided three (3) options to be dressed more to code during the school day or at school-sponsored activities:

  1. Students will be asked to put on their own alternative clothing, if already available at school, to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day

  2. Students will be provided with temporary school clothing when available to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day

  3. If necessary, students’ parents/guardians may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day.

This policy is subject to annual review and evaluation in a manner to be determined by the Superintendent of Schools.