Virginia district finds way to set fair dress code

New school policy applies equal rules to both genders

School dress codes tend to be controversial subjects, especially over the last year or two. A recent article in Education Week highlights some of the more high-profile cases, which included a school in St. Louis that drew criticism in 2018 for telling female students they shouldn’t show off their bodies for fear of distracting classmates. Another high school in Texas made a video intended to instruct students on the dress code, but highlighted only girls as the violators.

The list could go on, but the argument is too often, girls are targeted by the dress codes.

But one school is striking back against that notion. The Roanoke County School Board in Virginia recently passed a new dress code that hopes to be fair and gender neutral — and much simpler for students to follow.

The new dress code notes that clothing has to cover “areas from one armpit across to the other armpit, down to approximately 3 to 4 inches in length on the upper thighs.” Tops must have straps, and students need to wear shoes. Also, “see-through or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of the dress code,” the report notes.

According to the Roanoke Times, the new dress code also notes, “clothing may not state, imply, or depict hate speech/imagery targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other protected classification.”

Parents and students both weighed in on the new dress code, which helps too, because people tend to support actions that they had a say in crafting.

Clothing for boys and girls can be dramatically different, but Roanoke wrote a clear policy that sets equal standards for everyone. Dress codes are sensitive subjects. This district has found a way to navigate that water fairly.