Revised CASD dress code allows more clothing styles

(Chambersburg) — For the first time in three years, Chambersburg Area School District students can return to school this fall wearing T-shirts with graphics and designs – not just basic colors or certain permitted patterns. And they can pair them with almost any color of pants.

A new dress code unveiled by the district Wednesday night makes significant changes in a policy many parents have objected to since its inception in 2013.

The changes came after intensive campaigns over the last three years by parents unhappy with what they saw as rigid guidelines outlining what their children could or could not wear to school.

“It’s refreshing to see that when the public speaks they are being heard,” said district resident Sally Brooks in a post in the Facebook group  “Take Back Our Schools” following the release of the new dress code.

She called the new dress code “reasonable” and said it concentrates on “common decency and common sense” while allowing district children freedom of expression.

“I believe that these were the goals of everyone involved in this issue,” she said.

Parent Noel Keen, another leader in the movement to get the dress code changed, said she is excited about the new dress code rules and regulations.

She said she felt the community effort had made a difference in getting the code changed.

“It’s a good way to head into the summer,” she said.

The new guidelines ease up on the type of clothing that is acceptable in classrooms across the district, especially elementary and middle school classrooms.

The biggest change is probably the addition of graphics and designs on tops such as T-shirts. For the last three years those tops have had to be plain, without any type of graphics.

Now the only restrictions are that graphics on clothing can’t contain references to alcohol, drugs, weapons, tobacco or sexual connotations.

Gang-affiliated attire and accessories are still banned in the schools, including symbols, signs, tattoos, hairstyles or other items “which are evidence of membership in or affiliation with, recruitment or desire to be affiliated with a gang.”

A change for elementary students is the inclusion of sweatpants, yoga pants, athletic pants and shorts in the allowed clothing for those ages.

Hooded sweat shirts, or “hoodies,” have also been a big issue for all students under the prior dress code.

Beginning with the new  school year, hoodies can be worn by elementary school students during recess as well as to and from school. Middle school and high school students can continue to wear hoodies to and from school but must put them in a locker during the school day.

The new guidelines allow leggings and tights under skirts or dresses but not instead of wearing pants. They can be any color or pattern.

There is also a change of policy when it comes to colors and patterns on clothing. Now pants or “bottoms” can be any color or pattern except for solid white.

Pajama bottoms, athletic wear, skin-tight pants or sweatpants are still prohibited.

Hair color for high school students is a big change in the policy. Now fluorescent and rainbow colors are permitted as hair colors.

Permitted hair colors for students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade must still be shades of blond, black, auburn or red and brunette, including highlights.

Students’ hair must still be worn in a manner in which their vision is not obstructed, and which does not impede the vision of others or disrupt or distract the educational process.

The complete dress code can be found on CASD’s website at http://bit.ly/1WnEZOE.

Vicky Taylor, 717-262-4754 

This article is part of a content-sharing partnership between Public Opinion Online and WITF.