1.  Present a hazard to the health or safety of the student to him/herself or to others in the school.

2.  Materially interfere with school work, create disorder, or disrupt the educational program.

3.  Cause excessive wear or damage to school property.

4.  Prevent the student from achieving his or her own educational objectives because of blocked vision or restricted movement.

It is the responsibility of the student, with parental assistance, to come to school properly dressed.  Every student should be clean and fully dressed.  Attire should not be injurious to health and welfare or disruptive to the education process.  As such

· Hats/bandannas are not to be worn during the school day. 

· Pajamas are not to be worn to school.

· Waistlines must not be folded down. 

· Clothing that is appropriate for the beach, pool, or health club is not appropriate for school.

Some examples of items that are not to be worn to school are hats, bandannas, sunglasses, halter tops, tube tops, strapless tops, bare midriff tops, spaghetti strap tops, tank tops, and mesh or revealing items of

clothing.  Exposed undershirts, sleeveless, muscle shirts, and inappropriately short or tight skirts, slacks, pants, or short shorts are unacceptable school attire.

To check on appropriateness of short and skirt length, the following info should be considered:

1. When standing with arms at your side and fingers extended, shorts and skirts should fall below the tips of your fingers.

* Pants must be able to stay up without being hand held.

* Clothing that is offensive to any national ethnic, religious, sexual orientation or gender group is not appropriate for school. 

* Clothing that has any obscene writing or promotes suggestive, indecent or unacceptable school behavior whether stated or implied will not be permitted.

* Proper footwear is required at all times. Any footwear potentially unsafe or dangerous is unacceptable (i.e. high heels, flip flops and beach sandals.)  Proper footwear would be sneakers, dress shoes or sandals with straps.

* Students who are required to wear a head covering due to religious customs or medical reasons or are required to wear sunglasses due to medical reasons must present a written note from their parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) for religious reasons or doctor for medical reasons to the Principal.

There are special activities in school, such as gym, band, chorus, science, etc., where special dress is required and should be followed. The dress guidelines as enumerated above are in effect at all school functions including, but not limited to, plays, concerts, and co-curricular programs.  Students who are dressed inappropriately for school will remove the items and/or replace them with either clothing they have with them or clothing that the school will loan them.  Parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) will be contacted to request other clothing and to share the information.  In some situations, items will be confiscated.  Parents should contact the principal to make arrangements for the return on confiscated item(s).Student dress guidelines are established and enforced cooperatively by the students, faculty, and administration of this district. The dress code shall serve as a minimum code.  Exceptions for special events and religious and/or medical reasons will be permitted with the approval of the building principal and superintendent of schools.

N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1, 18A:11-7, 18A:11-8, 18A:11-9.

Adopted:  22 July 2004

Revised:   17 November 2005

Please be advised that the Stafford Township Board of Education Policy #5120 states that “The building principal shall assign students in his/her school to appropriate grades, classes, or groups.” 

Parent/Guardian input is always welcome.  The Stafford Township School District makes every effort to balance our classes in terms of ability, gender, number of students in a class, and many other criteria - which often makes it difficult to honor parent/guardian requests.  If you have specific concerns about the placement of your child, or have specific information that will help us make an appropriate placement for your child, please feel free to send that information to the building principal.

If you wish to have one teacher removed from consideration, such wishes will usually be honored, provided that appropriate reasons/justification/rationale is well documented and included with the correspondence.

All pertinent information must be submitted to the building principal by April 13th.  Any information received after that date will not be considered.