NORTHFIELD CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION FILE CODE: 5132
Northfield, New Jersey Monitored
Mandated
Policy Other Reasons
Student Dress
Purpose
The Northfield City Board of Education recognizes that each student’s mode of dress and grooming is a manifestation of the student’s personal style and individual preferences. The Board will impose its judgment on students and parent(s) or legal guardian(s) only when a student’s dress and grooming affect the educational program of the schools or the health and/or safety of students.
Students may not wear clothing or engage in grooming practices that present a health or safety hazard to the individual student or to others, materially interfere with school work, create disorder, disrupt the educational program, display profanity or other content that would violate student code of conduct or cause excessive wear or damage to school property.
As a general rule, student attire must be opaque (non- see through), and cover the body from the shoulders to mid-thigh (see diagram).
The Building Principal shall determine whether the dress or grooming of students comes within these prohibitions.
Unacceptable items for school shall include the following:
- Backless and/or open toed shoes
- Wheelies
- Any clothing (shirts, sweatshirts, pants, etc.) with designs, language, or pictures that are inappropriate for school (alcohol, tobacco, vaping, etc.)
School Principals, through permission of the Superintendent, may request and implement a dress policy waiver to celebrate special dress up days and activities throughout the school year.
Students and parent(s) or legal guardian(s) shall be informed of this policy annually at an appropriate time.
Adopted: 9/24/12
NJSBA Review/Update
Revised/Readopted: September 24, 2019; April 2020; January 2024
Key Words
Dress, Grooming, Attire
Legal References:
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-7 Legislative findings and declaration
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-8 Adoption of dress codes by boards of Education, Uniforms required; request for code by principal, staff, and parents
N.J.S.A.18A:11-9 Adoption of dress code policy prohibiting wearing of clothing indicating membership in certain gangs
Cross References; *5131 Student Conduct and Discipline
*5142 Student Safety
*Indicates the policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.