5450.1: Student Attire and Grooming

I. Prohibited Attire and Grooming. Students are required to avoid attire that disrupts or interferes with the educational process. Attire or grooming which contains the following expressions or which has the following effects is prohibited and will subject the student to disciplinary proceedings: 

A. Vulgar or obscene. Vulgar or obscene expressions are those which the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that when taken as a whole, appeal to prurient interests; or, the expressions depict or describe in a patently offensive way sexual conduct in a manner prohibited by applicable law; or, the expressions, taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. 

B. Defamatory. Expressions shall be considered defamatory when they include libelous falsehoods about individuals. In order to be defamatory, the libelous falsehood must be made with actual malice; that is, with the knowledge that it is false or with reckless disregard of whether or not it is false. 

C. Invasion of privacy of others. Invasion of privacy includes exploitation of an individual's personality; providing information of an individual's private affairs with which the public has no legitimate concern; or wrongful intrusion into an individual's private activities in a manner that can cause mental suffering, shame, or humiliation to a person of ordinary sensibilities. 

D. Criticism of school officials or advocation of violation of District Policies or Rules. Such expressions are prohibited to the extent that there is evidence that supports a reasonable judgment that substantial disruption of or material interference with the normal operation of the school or school activities will result, as provided in Section I (F) below. 

E. Discriminatory. Expressions which attack or promote discrimination against groups or individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, disability, or age.

F. Substantial disruption or material interference with the educational process. Such expressions are prohibited when there is information which causes school administrators to reasonably forecast that a substantial disruption of or material interference with the normal operation of the school or school activities may occur, or injury to persons, damage to property, or interference with the rights of others may result if permitted. 

G. Highly controversial. Expressions that are highly controversial and advance or advocate a certain viewpoint or lifestyle, which has an inflammatory effect. An indication of whether something is controversial is whether the topic would reasonably offend some groups or would be shocking to teachers, parents, and/or students. To be prohibited under this subsection, the expression must substantially interrupt or materially interfere with the educational process. 

H. Sexual harassment. The expression violates District Rule 5420.1 or constitutes prohibited sexual harassment. 

II. Health or Safety Risk. Student attire or grooming which creates a health or safety risk to the student or others is prohibited. Students refusing to immediately change attire or grooming, which creates a health or safety risk to the student or others will subject the student to disciplinary proceedings. 

III. Request for Hearing. Any student who believes that the District has unfairly deprived the student of the student's freedom of expression by the District's refusal to permit the wearing of a certain style of attire or grooming may request a review of the perceived deprivation. The complaining student requesting a hearing must follow the procedures set forth in District Rule 5510.1.