Understanding Public School Dress Code Laws

For both students and parents of school-aged children, school dress codes or uniforms can play a major role in daily life. While most public schools in the United States don’t require specific uniforms, virtually all schools have some form of dress code. While these may seem arbitrary or inconsistent, there are actually a number of legal concerns that affect school dress codes. 

Are School Dress Codes Legal?

Typically, American public schools are allowed to implement their own dress codes or uniform requirements, and there is no one specific federal law that dictates school dress codes. Many schools in the United States have had dress codes for decades, and the question of whether or not public schools could enforce dress codes did not come before the Supreme Court until 1969. 

 Most states allow school boards to make dress code rules for students within their district to promote a safe, disciplined school environment. The most common types of dress codes prohibit clothing that is considered vulgar or obscene or demonstrably disrupts productive school activity.

What many people (and even some schools) do not realize, however, is that public school dress code laws specify that rules may not differ based on students’ gender, race, religion, or other protected characteristics. In compliance with anti-discrimination laws, public schools also cannot enforce a dress code based on stereotypes about appropriate dress or appearance.