Principals Get Authority for Dress Codes

Principals of elementary and middle schools here may impose mandatory uniform dress codes if parents overwhelmingly agree, the school board decided Thursday.

District officials said many parents have been urging them to adopt uniforms.

Under the policy, any family that could not afford to pay for a uniform would be eligible for financial help from the school. In addition, principals would be required to give parents six months’ notice should they decide to impose a uniform dress code.

And principals “still have to seek parent approval if they want to implement a mandatory dress code,” school board President Antonio Valle Jr. said.

The La Habra City School District has two middle schools and six elementary schools. District officials said the elementary schools would be most likely to implement the dress code, which would prescribe blue pants or skirt and white shirts.

The district currently has a voluntary dress code that some students follow. The district was among the first in the county to implement the voluntary code, Valle said.

Making the dress code mandatory could discourage teasing, peer rivalry and gang activity, district officials said.

Students whose parents object to the uniforms don’t have to wear them.