LEP: PART 2- COLLAB 2
Analysis of Data
The focus of this project is the inequalities of the dress code policy within Pinellas
County School Board. Written within the current dress code policy are actions steps to be taken
should the scholars not be following the policy. Pinellas County School Board (PCSB) is one of
the largest counties in west central Florida. It is on the peninsula of Florida and is remarkably
diverse. The school that was used for this focus was Tyrone Middle School in Pinellas County,
Florida. According to the Florida Department of Education (2022), Tyrone Middle School is
currently 40.9% white, 25.5% African American/Black, 20.1% Hispanic, 7.8% Asian, 5.3 % two
or more races, 0.2% Pacific Islander and 0.1% American Indian/ Indigenous. The student body is
composed of 48% males and 52% female. As for staffing, the school consist of one female
principal, four male assistant principals, one male guidance counselor and school counselor, two
female guidance counselors, one male school resource officer and several male and female
instructional classroom teachers. Tyrone middle school is diverse and is part of the reflection of
the county, state, and nation when analyzing diversity within the educational system, which is a
good thing. According to Hughes (2020), Scholars find greater racial diversity to be associated
with positive outcomes, including increases in student earnings potential, the likelihood of
attending college, and academic achievement.
“The 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 (code of conduct).” For the dress
code to be all inclusive or equal to all it must be first understood. Once it is “understood,” there
are several minor changes/ additions that need to be made in for the policy to be better
understood and applicable for the scholars, parents, and staff. As previously stated, the PCSB
LEP: PART 2- COLLAB 3
dress code explains the purpose and desired outcomes of the dress code regarding scholars in an
educational setting.
Analysis of the Policy
The current dress code policy for PCSB is almost identical to the dress code provided by
the Florida Department of Education, meeting all the legal requirements. This policy, while
should include all types of scholars it does not and contains potential legal issues when it comes
to the implementation of this policy and the discipline that may follow. For example, according
to the policy, all scholars are not permitted to wear head gear while on the campus unless outside
during their physical education class. However, this one rule within the policy takes away from
scholars with religious backgrounds, whose religion to wear a certain type of head gear. This
also trickles into scholars’ first amendment rights.
There is another dress code rule within the policy that will potentially lead to legal issue
and that is “blaming.” Within the PCSB dress code it stated, “FormBfitting leotard/spandex type
clothing is not allowed unlessBproper outer garments cover to mid-thigh length or longer.” This is
a gate way rule to body shaming students, more specifically female students. While the dress
code should be inclusive for all scholars, it is important for teachers, administration, staff, and
parent to understand that this one specific point is targeting a specific group of scholars. Another
instance of shaming within the policy is “All clothingBmust be appropriately sized, securely
fastened and cover midriff, back, sides, and all undergarmentsBalways.” While there can be great
justification behind this rule, it still falls within the slippery slope of shaming scholars who might
not be able cross all parameters of this rule. For instance, scholars wearing a siblings clothing
that does not properly fit. All should be aware and understand that blaming is a crime and that
there are factors out of the scholar’s control.
LEP: PART 2- COLLAB 4
Analysis of the Focal Groups
Female and minority students are impacted the most when it comes to the implementation
of PCSB dress code policy and the disciple matrix. Pavlakis (2018) discusses how a group of
New Jersey students created the hashtag #Iamnotadistraction to push against dress codes that
required female students to cover their bodies, implicitly blaming them for distracting males
from learning. I have personally witnessed this in my current school. I have seen my female
scholars going through body developmental changes and have been removed from the classroom
to go home or the in-school suspension room on campus and in extreme cases even given a
referral because of their bodies. Meanwhile their male students are going through body
developmental changes as well and are not asked to cover up bodies or removed from the
educational setting at all. I’ve also witnessed Black and brown scholars on campus being stopped
by administration or campus monitors for sagging their pants far more often than I do for white
scholars.
The dress code set by PCSB needs to be rewritten, updated, and addressed for all the
potential legal issue it carries. Even if a scholar unintentionally violates the policy, the PCSB
could still face legal concerns. PCSB dress code policy is intended to be inclusive and
representative to all and for all scholars. To ensure that the policy meets all scholars, steps should
be taken to modify the policy so that all scholars, parents, administration, and staff understand
and all scholar my follow the policy.
LEP: PART 2- COLLAB 5
References
Code of conduct / v. dress code. / V. Dress Code. (n.d.). https://www.pcsb.org/dresscode
Florida Department of Education. (2022). Retrieved from http://www.fldoe.org
Hughes, C., Bailey, C. M., Warren, P.Y., & Stewart, E. A. (2020). “Value in Diversity”: School
Racial and Ethnic Composition, Teacher Diversity, and School Punishment. Social
Science Research, 92,102481-102481.
Pavlakis, A., & Roegman, R., (2018). How Dress Code Criminalize Males and Sexualize females
of color: Too often, schools dress code are enforced in ways that disproportionately
impact students of color-both male and female. (Sex, gender, and schooling). Phi Delta
Kappan, 100(2), 54-54
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