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School Dress Codes and Uniforms

By Linda Lumsden and Gabriel Miller

White, Kerry A. "Do School Uniforms Fit?"

The School Administrator 57:2 (February 2000): 36-40. EJ 599 101. Available from: AASA Customer Service, 203-875-0748

According to White, while only a few public schools were "experimenting with uniforms" a decade ago, currently "nearly half of the nation’s big urban school systems have adopted school uniform policies for all or some of their schools." In a 10-state survey of elementary and middle school principals conducted two years ago by the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the clothing company Lands End, 11 percent of respondents said that their schools mandate uniforms, and another 15 percent were considering such a policy. Other recent surveys indicate that support for uniforms is growing among parents as well. In one survey, 56 percent of parents said they would support a school uniform policy.

When it comes to the effects of school uniforms, the research "has been inconclusive or mixed," says White. Much of the debate between supporters and opponents is based on anecdotal reports rather than well-designed studies. Some authors contend that uniforms lessen emphasis on fashion, reduce the financial burden of low-income families, and promote peer acceptance, school pride, and learning. Others aren’t convinced. They compare adopting a uniform policy to applying a fresh coat of paint to a crumbling building–it’s very visible but doesn’t address the underlying problems.

Opposition to uniforms is often based more on civil rights concerns than on the lack of solid research demonstrating benefits. Many opponents believe that dictating what students wear to school violates their constitutional right to freedom of expression. While legal decisions regarding uniforms have been mixed, some predict that courts will be more "friendly" toward uniform policies as judges become aware of schools’ safety concerns and disciplinary issues.

• School Dress Codes and Uniforms
• Do School Uniforms Fit?
  Kerry White discusses arguments for and against school uniforms and summarizes the state of research in this area.
• Dress Codes in the Public Schools: Principals, Policies, and Precepts
  Todd DeMitchell and colleagues report on a survey of principals’ views on dress codes and uniforms, look at sample policies, and outline legal issues related to regulating student dress.
• Evaluation of School Uniform Policy at John Adams and Truman Middle Schools for Albuquerque Public Schools
  Deborah Elder evaluates the implementation and effects of a mandatory uniform policy at two middle schools in an impoverished community.
• School Uniforms: Can Voluntary Programs Work? Experimenting in an At-Risk School
  Richard Daugherty describes the adoption of a voluntary uniform policy at a middle school and the level of compliance over time.
• School Uniforms Redux
  Benjamin Dowling-Sendor examines a recent school uniform case and discusses elements that can help schools survive legal challenges.

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