How to Reform or Abolish School Dress Codes

View the How to Reform or Abolish School Dress Codes PowerTopic

Acknowledgment

Special thanks to Sabrina Bernadel, who worked on this presentation while at the National Women’s Law Center.

This presentation is best used after viewing “Can Dress Codes Harm Students?”

You have the power to advocate for school policies that make you feel safe, valued, and included. While the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) recommends abolishing dress codes, you may choose to modify these recommendations in ways you feel are appropriate, such as advocating for an equitable dress code.

This presentation will cover:

Reforming or abolishing dress codes can shift school climate:
- Away from how students look to how students are learning and feeling
- Toward a culture of consent and respect where harassment is not tolerated
- Toward rules that keep students safe and in class

These changes can lead to a healthier school climate for students and the entire school community.

Abolishing a dress code means getting rid of it.
It opens space for students and school leaders to work together on safety and wellness policies that affirm students’ identities and keep them in class.

Step 1: Read your school or district dress code.
- It may be part of the code of conduct or a separate document.
- Codes are usually available at school or on the school website.
- If you can’t find it, ask a teacher and make note of that.
Step 2: Identify policies and practices that may disproportionately impact students.
- Are policies worded in ways that could violate students’ rights?
- Who is most likely to be punished?
- Who have you seen punished most often?
- Are stereotypes underlying the policy?
Step 3: Build community support.
- Make or join a diverse student group.
- Use community spaces, events, and social media:
  - PTA meetings, town halls, newsletters
  - Community Facebook groups, TikTok, Instagram
Step 4: Write your recommendations.
- Make your asks clear.
- Be specific about what should change and how.
- Collaborate with other students.
- Find supportive adults at school or in the community.
Step 5: Share your recommendations with school leaders.
- Request a meeting.
- Write letters to administrators or school board members.
- Speak at meetings or town halls.
- Respond to public comment requests.
- Ask to be included in future discussions.
Step 6: Hold leaders accountable.
- Start a petition.
- Organize protests.
- Engage media.
- File complaints with state or federal education departments.

Riley O’Keefe (Florida, 2021):
- Led a petition with over 7,000 signatures.
- Challenged edited yearbook photos of girls without consent.
- Case was taken up by the ACLU.
- District revised dress code to be gender neutral.
- Learn more: Education Week
Sophia Trevino (Georgia, 2021):
- Exposed sexist and racist dress code enforcement.
- Organized weekly student protests.
- Received national media coverage.
- Learn more: New York Times , Good Morning America
Charter Day School Case (North Carolina, 2020):
- Girls challenged skirt-only dress code.
- Federal courts ruled the policy unconstitutional.
- Decision upheld through the Supreme Court.
- Learn more: NWLC blog

You may not be ready to abolish dress codes, but change is still necessary.
Equitable dress codes support access to education and avoid reinforcing stereotypes.
Advocacy groups provide model dress codes and training resources.