Employee Dress Code
Employees' attire should reflect professional standards at all times. In order to achieve the professional status desired by educators, it is essential that all involved dress accordingly on a consistent basis.
Research has shown a direct correlation between appropriate dress and how others perceive the individual as well as the organization. In addition, personal attire can be a useful tool in classroom management, in that it can project an image of respect and authority and can help to establish a sense of formality.
In general, a business casual style is appropriate, and the following guidelines established by the district should be followed.
Guidelines for Jeans
Fridays are the only days that jeans should be worn with the first and third Fridays of each month as regular spirit days, and the second, fourth, and fifth * Fridays being reserved for incentive/ fundraisers at the discretion of the principal/supervisor. The only exceptions to the Friday rule would be days awarded by the district for incentives (PTA memberships, achievements, etc.) and on-campus staff development days, work days, off-campus field trips, elementary school Play Day, and Western Day. (Other exceptions could be granted on a very limited basis for special needs/ occasions at the determination of the principal/supervisor.)
Jeans should only be worn with a spirit/school shirt, and should fit appropriately with no tears/holes or signs of distress or excessive wear.
* If a formal meeting, etc., is scheduled on these days, staff members should dress according to professional standards.
Guidelines for Summer Attire*
- Business casual is allowed
- Coats/ties not required
- No resort/beach wear – shorts, tennis shoes, flip-flops, etc.
- Jeans are allowed on Thursdays (no holes or those that display excessive wear)
- If a formal meeting is scheduled on any given day, please dress accordingly (professional)
*These guidelines do not apply to those who are required to wear school uniforms
Guidelines for Women
For female employees, clothing should convey a professional image by being suitable, modest and becoming for a business casual setting as outlined below:
- Collared or un-collared shirts – pullover or button style
- Sleeveless shirts, tops and dresses that are not excessively deep cut (underarm) or low cut
- Tunic-style shirts that approach the length of a skirt must be worn with leggings
- Jackets, shirt-jackets, cardigans, and stylish denim jackets
- Tailored or business casual pants
- Cropped dress pants
- Capri pants that reach mid-calf
- Skirts/dresses of a modest length – falling at or just above the knee
- Leggings that are moderate in style worn with a regular length dress, skirt, or tunic top
- Dress shoes, leather-like, suede, loafer style, etc.
- Boots
- Open-toed shoes and sandals that have a dress appearance
Unacceptable
- Extreme hairstyles, designs, and unnatural hair colors
- Tank top style shirts
- Halter tops, form fitting shirts
- Spaghetti straps, cut out backs, or any style that reveals undergarments
- Skirts – or any clothes – that are too tight, too short, or too revealing
- Low-fitting/low-rise pants or “hip-hugger” style
- Sweat/workout pants, wind pants, and warm-ups (Shorts only in PE/athletic classes – coaches are to be in professional dress while in the regular classroom)
- Beach sandals and flip-flops
- Tennis or athletic shoes – acceptable only on jean days
Guidelines for Men
Acceptable
- Men are permitted facial hair if neatly trimmed and moderate/short in style
- Hair should be of a modest length and should be neat and well-groomed
- Collared shirts – polo style, oxford style, or dress shirts
- Shirts may be long or short sleeved
- Shirts should be tucked in
- Sweaters including pullover, cardigan styles, and banded-bottom collared shirts that have an appearance of a sweater (Although not required, coats and ties are encouraged)
- Tailored dress slacks or business casual (Dockers style) pants
- Dress or casual shoes – leather-like, suede or loafer styles
- Boots
Unacceptable
- “Unshaven” appearance
- Extreme hairstyles, designs, and unnatural colors
- T-shirts, sweatshirts
- Cabana-style, smock-styled or shirts designed to be untucked
- Sweat/workout pants, wind pants, and warm-ups (Shorts only in PE/athletic classes – coaches are to be in professional dress while in the regular classroom)
- Sandals
- Tennis or athletic shoes – acceptable only on jean days
General Information
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If there is any question as to whether an item is acceptable or not, it is probably not!
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Campus/department administrators will have complete and final judgment on all matters concerning interpretation of the employee dress code.
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Matters concerning appearance and dress not specifically covered in the guidelines, shall defer to the guidelines for students and/or shall be within the discretion of administrators (i.e., tattoos, piercings, etc.).
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Employee groups who are provided with and/or required to wear school uniforms (custodians, security guards, facilities management, food service, etc.) should wear uniforms as intended during all duty hours. The complete uniform should be worn appropriately and should project a neat, clean, and orderly appearance.
Although it will be left to the discretion of the supervisor as to whether or not the appearance is acceptable, there will be a lot of trust placed on each individual to use good judgment and not push the limits on the appropriateness (modesty, etc.) of the attire.