Student Dress Down Rules

The administration, faculty and staff of Coweta Charter Academy are committed to providing our students with a safe, respectful learning environment, free from distractions. This includes both in person and virtual school-sponsored events.

When participating in dress down days, in-person events, and/or on-camera virtual events, students are expected to dress in a manner that is supportive of learning and appropriate to the setting.

If the school should need to transition to virtual learning due to inclement weather, an epidemic, a pandemic, and/or emergency situation; or the student is engaged in a virtual meeting or field trip, when on camera, the below rules apply to all parts of the student that may be visible to those receiving their image.

When at school sponsored in-person events, field trips, meetings, testing, or receiving educational support services where the school uniform dress is not required the below student dress code rules apply in their entirety.

If students are not required to wear their school uniform for an occasion/event, then failure to follow these dress code rules may result in the student not being allowed to participate in the occasion/event and/or parents/guardians being called to pick up their student.

Clothing and accessories which interfere with, distract from, or further impede student learning are not allowed. Prohibited articles of clothing and accessories include but are not limited to the following:

• Any articles that may reasonably be considered a safety hazard or potential weapon.
• Jewelry and accessories that may cut, choke, be easily ripped out causing potential injuries, or are sharp are prohibited. (For example: long dangling earrings.) Piercings are allowed only in the ears as other locations may be distracting.
• Flip flops, slippers, crocs, and clogs are not permitted. Wheelie shoes are not permitted.
• Garments that expose the midriff, cleavage, shoulders, or backside. More specifically, shirts, blouses, tops, and dresses must cover the abdomen, cleavage, back, and shoulders. Shirts/ tops must also cover the waistband of pants, shorts or skirts, with no midriff, or cleavage visible while standing, raising one’s arms, or while bending over. Pants/shorts/skirts/skorts must cover all undergarments and reveal no skin when a person is leaning over, bending down, and/or sitting down. 
• See-through or mesh clothing, halter or tank tops, strapless dresses or tops, spaghetti straps, pajamas*, and sleep* or loungewear*. 

 *Special Note: If students are participating in Pajama Day or are allowed to wear PJs or Sleepwear as part of a school-sponsored activity, then the garments must not be see-through, overly form-fitting, or impede a student’s movements and normal school activities.  The garments must be no shorter than fingertip length or mid-thigh, whichever is longer. Students must wear shorts or leggings under all PJs and Sleepwear that do not have pants or shorts. ALL other non-uniform dress code rules apply.

• Hats, caps, visors, and other head apparel should not be worn except for religious reasons or medical purposes. However, if hats are allowed as part of a dress-up theme specific day, then they are allowed for that day only within the guidelines that are communicated by the school.
• Clothing and accessories may not display any of the following:
  • Racial or Ethnic slurs
  • Hate Speech
  • Gang Affiliation
  • Vulgar, sexually explicit, or suggestive language/ images
  • Products such as alcohol, tobacco, vaping, or illegal drugs         

OTHER Student Non-Uniform Apparel Code REQUIREMENTS:

• All shoes must be closed toe and have the heel covered. Girls heeled dress shoes must have an ankle strap and the heel may be no more than 2” high. Shoes should be clean, unstained, and in good condition.  No dangling shoe laces are allowed.  Shoe laces must be tied at all times for safety unless the laces are designed not to be tied and have no dangling tails. 
• Shoes with non-slip bottoms/treads must be worn at all times.
• Socks, tights, or hosiery must be worn with shoes. Stockings or hosiery must cover the full length of the student’s legs and feet. Fish net and patterned hosiery ARE NOT allowed. Thigh-high hosiery or stockings ARE NOT permitted. Over-the-knee socks ARE NOT permitted.
• Proper undergarments/ foundational garments are required at all times. (i.e. boxers, briefs, underwear, panties, bras, camisoles, etc. as is applicable)
• Shirts, tops, and blouses must fit appropriately and must not be faded, see-through, stained, dirty, ripped, altered, have holes, or be overly form fitting.  ○ More specifically, shirts, blouses, tops, and dresses must cover the abdomen, cleavage, back, and shoulders. Shirts/blouses/tops must also cover the waistband of pants, shorts, skorts or skirts, with no midriff, or cleavage visible while standing, raising one’s arms, or while bending over.
• Shorts and skorts, must fall at least to the fingertip of the student’s middle finger when their arms are straight and hands are flat against the student’s sides or mid-thigh, whichever is longer. They must also have at least a 4-5” inseam. These items must cover all undergarments and maintain modesty when a student is leaning over, bending down, or sitting down. Cheer shorts must not be rolled at the waist.
• If wearing bike shorts (or something similar), then the apparel item worn on top must fall to the fingertip of the student’s middle finger when their arms are straight and hands are flat against the student’s sides or mid-thigh, whichever is longer. The top of a student’s thighs and their bottom should be completely covered at all times when in bike shorts or something similar. These items must cover all undergarments and maintain modesty when a student is leaning over, bending down, or sitting down.
• If wearing leggings (or something similar), then the apparel item worn on top must fall to the fingertip of the student’s middle finger when their arms are straight and hands are flat against the student’s sides or mid-thigh, whichever is longer. The top of a student’s thighs and their bottom should be completely covered at all times when in leggings or something similar. These items must cover all undergarments and maintain modesty when a student is leaning over, bending down, or sitting down.
• Skirts and dresses must be no shorter than two inches above the knee. These items must cover all undergarments and maintain modesty when a student is leaning over, bending down, or sitting down. Shorts MUST be worn underneath all skirts and dresses to maintain modesty.
• Pants/shorts/skirts/skorts must be worn at the student’s natural waist. Sagging pants/shorts/skirts/skorts are not allowed. Pants/shorts/skirts/skorts must cover all undergarments and reveal no skin when a person is leaning over, bending down, and/or sitting down. A belt is highly recommended for garments with belt loops. 
  • Denim jeans must not have holes, worn areas, or shredded/frayed areas.  Denim jeans must not be overly formfitting, embellished, stained, worn, or dirty.  Denim jeans must be worn at the individual’s waist. A belt is required if jeans do not sit at an individual’s waist.  Jeans must cover all undergarments and reveal no skin when a person is leaning over, bending down, and/or sitting down. 
    • Note: If current fashion styles do not readily provide for the purchase of jeans that are not overly form fitting (i.e. skin tight, skinny, or fit like jeggings) or that do not sit at an individual’s natural waist (i.e. mid-rise or low-rise), then the top worn with the jeans must fall to the fingertip of the student’s middle finger when their arms are straight and hands are flat against the student’s sides or mid-thigh, whichever is longer. 

DRESS CODE for School Dances and other Fancy Dress-up Non-Uniform Events:  

Clothes, specifically dresses, dressy tops, dressy skirts, and dressy pants for school dances or other fancy dress-up non-uniform events have the following requirements/guidelines separate from the Student Non-Uniform Apparel Code.  Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the student not being allowed to participate in the occasion/event and parents/guardians being asked or called to take their student home.

1. Spaghetti straps are allowed provided that when a student leans over their top remains in place against their chest. 
2. The dressy garments may expose parts of the back and/or shoulders depending on the style of dress or dressy top. However, fully backless garments ARE NOT allowed.
3. The midriff/stomach area must be fully covered at all times.
4. Cut-outs and see through material are not allowed except in the area of the back, upper chest, and shoulders.  
5. Necklines should not expose cleavage. 
6. ALL dresses must be no shorter than 2” above the knee. 
7. Appropriate undergarments must be worn.
8. No undergarments may be showing.
9. The styles worn should be age appropriate 
10. The clothes worn should be appropriate for the occasion/event.
11. Students wearing dresses above the knee are required to also wear modesty shorts, bike shorts, Spanx, or cheer shorts under their skirts/dresses as many of the current dances or moves students engage in involve students dropping down, spinning, and/or bending over.
12. Shoes may not have more than a 2” heel and it is highly encouraged that they have an ankle strap.
13. If wearing a suit jacket or coat a shirt must also be worn.  The shirt must not be see-through or have cut-outs. 
14. All shirts must have no more than two (2) buttons undone.
15. All other non-uniform dress code rules apply if not specifically written in this section.

Coweta Charter Academy administration, faculty and staff members reserve the right to determine what constitutes appropriate or inappropriate dress for the school setting. In matters of opinion, the judgment of school administration shall prevail. All items of apparel worn for religious observance, medical purposes, or to meet the special needs of the student will be allowed in situations in which such accommodation is required by state or federal law or at the sole discretion of the Superintendent.

Students determined to be violating the dress code will be sent to the front office and their parents/guardians called to bring a change of clothes. They will not be permitted to leave the office until they are dressed in attire that meets dress code requirements.  Students that repeatedly violate the dress code may be sent home.

Student Dress Down Rules