LEP: PART 1 – MORAL AND LEGAL ISSUES 2
Moral and Legal Issues/Values in Policy
Moral and Legal Issues in School Policy
Part A: Policy Include the actual policy in regards to Moral & Legal
Implications
Dress Code (Policy 5500.04)-Pinellas
County Schools Florida
6The dress and grooming of Pinellas County Public Schools’
students shall contribute to the health and safety of the individual,
promote a positive educational environment, and not disrupt the
educational activities and processes of the school. These
standards of dress and grooming apply to all students in the
public schools of Pinellas County, unless the principal grants a
specific exemption. Apparel6that disrupts educational activities
and processes of the school will6result in the removal of the
student from the regular6school environment until acceptable
apparel can be secured for the student.6The administration will be
the final judge about whether a student’s6clothing is appropriate
for school or whether it will create an6environmental climate that
is distracting to learning. Principals, faculty, and staff6members
will enforce the6dress code. Failure to comply with the6dress code
will be handled similarly to other disciplinary infractions.6Non-
compliance may result in consequences including but not limited
to6detention,6in-school6suspension, and loss of eligibility to
participate in6extracurricular activities.
6Pursuant to F.S. 1006.07, wearing clothing that exposes
underwear or body6parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or that
disrupts the6learning environment will have the following specific
consequences. In addition to6these consequences, the violation
shall be corrected before the student is6allowed back in the
regular school environment:
1. For a first offense,6a student shall be given a verbal
warning and the school principal6(or designee) shall call
the student’s parent or guardian.
2. For6a second offense, the student is ineligible to
participate in any6extracurricular6activity for a period not
to exceed 5 days and6the school principal (or designee)
shall meet with the student’s6parent or guardian.
3. For a third or subsequent offense, a student6shall receive
an6in-school6suspension pursuant to F.S. 1(5) for a period
not6to exceed 3 days, the student is ineligible to participate
in any6extracurricular6activity for a period not to exceed
30 days, and the school principal6(or designee) shall call
the student’s parent or guardian and send6the parent or
LEP: PART 1 – MORAL AND LEGAL ISSUES 3
Part A: Policy Include the actual policy in regards to Moral & Legal
Implications
guardian a written letter regarding the student’s6in-
school6suspension and ineligibility to participate
in6extracurricular activities.
All clothing6must be appropriately sized, securely fastened
and cover midriff, back, sides, and all
undergarments6always. For example, suspenders should
be over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belts
buckled, no underwear as outerwear, no underwear
exposed.
Clothing must cover the body from one armpit across to
the other armpit and down to mid-thigh. All tops must
have sleeves and cover the entire shoulder.
Rips, holes, or tears in clothing must be below mid-thigh.
See-through, revealing, or mesh garments must not be
worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meets
the minimum requirements of this dress code.
Gang paraphernalia, garments and/or jewelry, tattoos, or
other insignias, which display or suggest sexual, vulgar,
drug, alcohol, or tobacco-related wording/graphics or may
tend to provoke violence or disruption in school shall not
be worn.
Clothing must not state, imply, or depict hate speech or
imagery6targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender,
sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or any other
characteristics protected by federal or state law or Board
policy.
Any articles of clothing or jewelry that may cause injury
including, but not limited to, items with spikes, or sharp
objects, wallet chains, and heavy link chains are not
allowed.
Students must wear shoes that are safe and appropriate for
the learning environment. Inappropriate
footwear6includes, but is not limited to, roller skates, skate
LEP: PART 1 – MORAL AND LEGAL ISSUES 4
Part A: Policy Include the actual policy in regards to Moral & Legal
Implications
shoes, and bedroom6slippers.
Form6fitting leotard/spandex type clothing is not allowed
unless6proper outer garments cover to mid-thigh length or
longer.
Head gear, including but not limited to, caps, hats,
bandanas, sweatbands and/or sunglasses shall not be worn
indoors on campus unless permitted by the principal for
religious or medical reasons. Students may wear
sunglasses, hats, or other sun-protective wear while
outdoors during school hours, however these articles must
not violate this dress code.
Individual schools are expected to use the state and
district dress and grooming guidelines as minimum
standards; any adjustments may be made upon approval of
the School Advisory Council (SAC). The principal at each
school reserves the right to determine what appropriate
dress is for the school as detailed in these minimum
standards.
If the school has a mandatory school uniform policy, the
student must6adhere to those requirements.
Narrative Analyzing the Policy in Regards to Moral & Legal Implications
The Florida state statues provides a dress code that Pinellas County schools has adopted with little to no
changes. The justification for the dress code is to keep the learning environment positive and free of
distractions and focus on the health and safety of individuals in the learning environment. After having
reviewed the dress code limitations, I noticed that there were about 3-4 limits that specifically target the
female gender. To further make light of the sexism in the dress code policy, when schools go over the dress
code “do & don’t” there isn’t a gender-neutral display. There are many female dress code violation examples
and truly little male dress code violation examples. There is also a length requirement specifically outlined
for skirts and dresses. As for the inclusion of “good hygiene” in the policy, that is something well beyond a
scholar’s control in most cases. If the schools cannot provide all the necessary parts to help scholars from
“disrupting the learning environment,” then there should not be discipline placed on them. Especially for
scholars that are in low-income/ poverty areas. There is also a limitation that can be seen as religion
discriminatory. The limitation states that a scholar my not wear a head gear unless permitted by the principal
can play on their religious freedom. As for all the limitations previously discussed, I don’t believe should
qualify as a “disruption” and lead to grounds of disciplinary action.
LEP: PART 1 – MORAL AND LEGAL ISSUES 5
Values in School Policies, Programs, and Practices
Part B: Policy, Program, or Practice
Amendment/Changes
Discussion of suggested amendments or changes relating to
Social Justice, Equity, Confidentiality, Acceptance, and/or
Respect Between and Among Students & Faculty
Gender Neutral6Dress Code
6Dress code should include all aspects of sexual orientation.
While male and female are the targets, this excludes scholars
that identify on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Dress code should also
not put emphasis on females.
6Religion/Culturally Inclusive
While the limit stated that head gear can be worn for religious
reason, it is stated at the discretion of the principal. Creating
limitation to a scholar’s religious freedom.6There are certain
hair styles such as locs that are culturally appropriate and
should not be discriminated upon, especially in reference to
grooming.
6Remove Blaming in Dress Code
6A “non-disruptive” learning environment should not be the
reason behind certain limitations and aspects of a dress code.
There should be no blame to a female on their body that they
have not control over. Nor should they be blamed for the
clothes they are wearing. Also, scholar that have no control of
their grooming habit should not receive blame as well.
Upholding Values in the Face of Adversity
6Since becoming an educator, I believe that my personal morals and values about scholars have remained the
same. Those who collaborate with scholars and do their job with passion and pride, have an understanding
that the scholars are trying the best they can when it comes to their presentation in school and understand
that they are only but children as well. I pride myself in collaborating with likeminded individuals and
straying away from those that do not share the same values.
Outlined here, if they were to be amended into the current policy there would be no moral or ethical issues.
There would also be no legal entanglements, for as long as the scholars fall within the limitation listed and
the learning environment remains safe.
LEP: PART 1 – MORAL AND LEGAL ISSUES 6
References
Code of conduct / v. dress code. / V. Dress Code. (n.d.). https://www.pcsb.org/dresscode
Knipp, & Stevenson, R. (2022). “A Powerful Visual Statement”: Race, Class, and Gender in
Uniform and Dress Code Policies in New Orleans Public Charter Schools. Affilia., 37(1), 79–96.
https://doi.org/10.1177/08861099211010026
Martin, J. L., & Brooks, J. N. (2020). Loc’d and Faded, Yoga Pants and Spaghetti Straps:
Discrimination in Dress Codes and School Pushout.International Journal of Education Policy
and Leadership,16(19)https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2020v16n19a1047
Meredith Neville-Shepard6(2019)6Disciplining the Female Student Body: Consequential
Transference in Arguments for School Dress Codes,6Women's Studies in
Communication,642:1,61-20,6DOI:610.1080/07491409.2019.1573771
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