5511 Dress and GroomingPage 1 of 2
5511 Dress and Grooming
The Board of Trustees has established a school uniform as the proper mode of dress for the Newark Educators’ Community Charter School. All students are required to wear a uniform every day unless specifically excused by the school. The Principal shall develop procedures for addressing non-compliance with this rule. Such procedures shall recognize the primary role of parents/guardians in supporting the uniform dress code and will respect the feelings of students who may have no ability to comply on their own. The school will assist economically disadvantaged students and their parents/guardians with purchasing uniforms as requested, subject to documentation of need by parents/guardians. Additionally, religious or cultural practices surrounding dress may necessitate flexibility in the enforcement of the uniform dress code.
The Board believes that the use of uniforms benefits the students and their families by minimizing the costs associated with dressing students for school and by creating a “level playing field” for student fashion in which no student is disadvantaged socially by the perceived status of different clothing items.
The Board believes that dressing in uniforms allows students to experience a strong sense of membership and belonging to the school community, and that family members at Newark Educators’ Community Charter School overwhelmingly prefer the establishment of a uniform for students.
The uniform currently in place (blue slacks and skirts, white shirts, blue sweaters, etc.) will be maintained. It can be altered only by action of the Board of Trustees. The Board will review the uniform as necessary or in response to suggestions from staff and student families.
The Board directs the Principal to work with uniform vendors to ensure that students and their families receive the lowest possible price for good quality clothing, and to ensure that the uniform articles are widely and conveniently available.
A sample of the uniform shall be available in the school office for viewing by parents and students and to clarify the color and style of the uniform.
The uniform provision of this policy shall be implemented in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:11-7 and 18A:11-8.
Students are required to wear shoes that are suitable for the learning activities that occur regularly in school, including playing outside and walking around the community, as well as learning in the classroom. Flip flops, some sandals, and other shoes that are not suitable for the active life of a student are prohibited.
The Board believes that student cleanliness and grooming is a matter of hygiene and health for the entire school community and directs the Principal to develop procedures to address situations in which students appear to be inadequately groomed or cleaned. Such procedures should be implemented with extreme sensitivity to the emotional and social well being of students and the limited ability of very young students to assume full responsibility for their grooming.
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-7
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-8
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-9
Adopted:
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