The dress code also requires students to wear solid colored shirts and slacks, shorts or capri pants in navy blue, black or khaki colors. Among the things the dress code prohibits are demin pants, sleeveless shirts, t-shirts, overalls or clothing with holes in it.
The video announcement published by FISD lays out the district’s reasoning behind the new policy and features a voiceover from a student.
“I may be a little young to understand what professionalism means right now, but the skills I’m learning are an essential part of being successful in my future career,” the student says. “Every profession has a dress code, whether it’s scrubs, a welding helmet or a chef’s apron. The way I dress plays an important role in professional and safety, both in the classroom and on the job site.”
If a student violates the dress code, they will be “given an opportunity to correct the problem at school,” the policy says. If the violation is not corrected, the student may be placed under in-school suspension until the violation is fixed or until a parent or other adult brings the child different clothing that fits the policy, it says.
“A young lady should be able to choose what she wears,” Derick Hollman told WFAA. “They shouldn’t be forced to wear pants.”
“There are so many important future workforce skills that we want to impart in our kids as they head off to have a successful future,” FISD Superintendent Justin Terry says in the announcement video, listing characteristics including creativity, collaboration and “baseline employability skills” like showing up to work on time, communicating positively with coworkers, and following the expectations of an employer.
The dress code is made to “improve student self-esteem, bridge socio-economic differences among students, and promote positive behavior, thereby enhancing school safety and improving the learning environment,” FISD said in its statement.
