DRESS AND GROOMING The Melissa Independent School District is committed to providing a “World Class” educational opportunity to each student enrolled in the district. Efforts are being made by MISD to ensure the highest standards of performance for all MISD stakeholders and to promote a safe and secure environment free of the perception of fear, threat, or danger. The district’s dress code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, prevent disruption, and minimize safety hazards. Students and parents/guardians may determine a student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the following: The following modes of dress or grooming are PROHIBITED: DRESS: Clothing, including tee shirts, which displays sexually oriented or explicit material, violence, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, gang or hate slogans or pictures deemed inappropriate by school officials. Short shorts, skirts (must be fingertip length) Pants, shorts, and skirts worn below the waist (“sagging” garments are not acceptable) All shirts must be able to be tucked in. Trench coats or dusters Underwear as outerwear, exposed underwear or no underwear (including pajama pants and boxers) Exposed midriff or cleavage See-through shirts (e.g., thin or mesh) Spaghetti straps, tank tops, sports jersey (unless worn over an appropriate garment, such as an acceptable tee shirt). Straps on tops as described above must be at least two inches in width to be considered acceptable Leggings without appropriate clothing which extends over and covers the hips House shoes, heelies (shoes with wheels) Bare feet Chains on clothing or wallets, or as necklaces Any inappropriately worn or distracting clothing (e.g., too-tight tops or pants, lycra, spandex) Hats, caps, sunglasses – unless light tinted prescription glasses Bandanas, hairnets, skull caps, and hoods Jewelry – swastikas, pentagram, spoons, drug-related items Heavy or spiked jewelry (e.g., dog collars, heavy chains) GROOMING: Hairstyles or colors that are distracting, disruptive, or unsafe (head and facial) Body piercing jewelry – obtrusive and/or distracting jewelry Writing on body (body paint) Tattoos with provocative, profane or offensive pictures or writing. If the Principal determines that a student’s grooming violates the dress code, the student shall be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school by changing into something already at school or by having a parent/guardian or designee bring an acceptable change of clothing to school. If not corrected, the student shall be assigned in-school suspension for the remainder of the day or until the problem is corrected. Repeated offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action. If the student is sent home to change, the absence is unexcused. The Principal or Superintendent will have the final decision about what dress is appropriate or inappropriate. The Principal, in connection with the teacher, sponsor, coach or other person in charge of particular instructional or extracurricular activity, may regulate the dress and grooming of students who participate in the activity. Such additional standards shall be written and copies given to students and parent/guardians.
