NOTE: Colorado school boards are required by law to adopt a student dress code that prohibits students from wearing apparel that is deemed disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school, and a policy that allows students to wear recognized objects of cultural and religious significance at graduation ceremonies. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the board should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.
A safe and disciplined learning environment is essential to a quality educational program. District-wide standards on student attire are intended to help students concentrate on schoolwork, reduce discipline problems, and improve school order and safety. The Board recognizes that students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance; however, students must not wear apparel that is deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school.
Any student deemed in violation of the dress code will be required to change into appropriate clothing or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to school immediately. In this case, there will be no further penalty.
If the student cannot promptly obtain appropriate clothing, on the first offense, the student will be given a written warning and an administrator will notify the student’s parents/guardians. On the second offense, the student will remain in the administrative office for the day and do schoolwork and a conference with parents/guardians will be held. [Optional language: Classes missed as a result of the second offense are considered excused. [or] Classes missed as a result of the second offense are considered unexcused.] On the third offense, the student may be subject to suspension or other disciplinary action in accordance with Board policy concerning student suspensions, expulsions and other disciplinary interventions.
Unacceptable Items
The following items are not acceptable in school buildings, on school grounds, or at school activities:
1. Shorts, dresses, skirts or other similar clothing shorter than mid-thigh length
2. Sunglasses and/or hats worn inside the building
3. Inappropriately sheer, tight or low-cut clothing (e.g., midriffs, halter tops, backless clothing, tube tops, garments made of fishnet, mesh or similar material, muscle tops, etc.) that bare or expose traditionally private parts of the body including, but not limited to, the stomach, buttocks, back and chest
4. Tank tops or other similar clothing with straps narrower than 1.5 inches in width
5. Any inappropriate or disruptive clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that:
• Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons
• Are of a sexual nature
• By virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, or other attribute denote membership in gangs which advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior
• Are obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or legally libelous
• Threaten the safety or welfare of any person
• Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct
• Otherwise disrupt the teaching-learning process
Graduation Adornments
Graduating students are expected to wear the attire customarily worn for the graduation ceremony at their school, with the specific exceptions outlined below.
A student may adorn the cap, gown, or stole customarily worn at their school with traditional objects of tribal regalia and/or objects of cultural or religious significance. Adornments are something worn in addition to, but not replacing, graduation attire, and are not limited to decorating graduation caps. Tribal regalia or objects of cultural or religious significance means formal attire used in recognized practices and traditions of a certain group of people. Adornments cannot include any alphabetical letters other than the student’s name or numerals other than the graduating class (e.g. Class of 2022). Other written statements, phrases, or slogans are not permitted.
Students may be required to request permission to wear an adornment in advance, and the district reserves the right to prohibit any adornments that are obscene, defamatory, fraudulent, profane, threatening, inappropriate, or disruptive or violate the dress code in any other manner. If it is determined that the adornment would cause a substantial disruption based on reliable evidence, the student’s request may be denied. Students who wear adornments that have not been approved may be required to remove the adornment if the adornment is substantially disruptive.
Exceptions
Appropriate athletic clothing may be worn in physical education classes. Clothing normally worn when participating in school-sponsored extra curricular or sports activities (such as cheerleading uniforms and the like) may be worn to school when approved by the sponsor or coach.
Building principals, in conjunction with the school accountability committee, may develop and adopt school-specific dress codes that are consistent with this policy.
(Adoption date)
LEGAL REF.: C.R.S. 22-32-109.1 (2)(a)(I)(J) (board duty to adopt student dress code)
C.R.S. 22-1-142.5 (students permitted to wear recognized objects of cultural or religious significance at graduation that are not substantially disruptive)
CROSS REFS.: IMDB, Flag Displays
JBB*, Sexual Harassment
JIC, Student Conduct
JICDA, Code of Conduct
JICF, Secret Societies/Gang Activity
JICH, Drug and Alcohol Involvement by Students
JICI, Weapons in School
JK, Student Discipline
JKD/JKE, Suspension/Expulsion of Students (and Other Disciplinary Interventions)
[Revised February 2025]
COLORADO SAMPLE POLICY 2000©