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Monday, June 26, 2006
DPS officials are confident that a new District-wide dress code that was recently overwhelmingly adopted by the Detroit Board of Education will, among other things, eliminate distractions in class and cut down on incidents of violence in or around the school buildings.
Many of the District’s schools already have dress codes in place. Some schools also require students to wear uniforms. The new policy does not terminate these existing codes. It simply spells out rules for what is acceptable attire at all DPS schools.
Under the new code, students will no longer be permitted to wear t-shirts, facial jewelry, hats, chain belts, flip flops, or bedtime clothing. All shirts must be collared, and no logos over one inch in diameter will be allowed unless they are DPS related. All tops must be white, blue, black, yellow or pink. All pants, skirts, jumpers or shorts must be solid khaki, navy blue or black.
Students will not be allowed to wear hoods, bandannas, or nonreligious headwear. Visible body piercing will be discouraged. The policy also bans tight-fitting clothing, tops that show students’ mid-sections or pants that sag. Penalties for students who run afoul of this new policy may include change in-school suspensions.
“We believe that this policy will help boost discipline in all our schools,” said William F. Coleman III, superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools, who hailed the board for passing this policy. “We believe that students need to learn at this early age about the importance of dressing appropriately. It will serve them well when they get into the workplace. I also want to encourage the parents to get out now to buy uniforms and other attire for the children. Now is a good time to do this. Many department stores are already beginning to display their inventory of school uniforms for the coming year.”
About the Detroit Public Schools
The Detroit Public Schools, founded in 1842, is one of the nation’s largest public school systems. Detroit Public Schools is a school district of choice and is open to children who live outside the city. The District offers numerous competitive academic and career technical programs.
Among these world-class programs are the Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural School, Michigan’s only public school of its kind; Davis Aerospace, one of few college prep high schools in the country where students can obtain a pilot’s license; the Detroit School of the Arts, a multiple award winning performing arts high school; and Crockett Technical High School, a digital technology high school.
For more information about the District, visit our website at www.detroitk12.org.
