Students at Ridgewood High School will have a lot more freedom when it comes to their fashion choices this coming year, including wearing hooded sweatshirts, hats, tank tops and crop tops, under a new dress code billed as more equitable and inclusive.
The code is aimed toward being more inclusive and helping students feel comfortable in their clothes at school.
“Our new dress code supports equitable educational access and does not reinforce gender stereotypes,” said Dean of Students Gina Castellano. “The dress code and enforcement does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, house income, gender identity or cultural observance.”
The Ridgewood High School District 234 Board voted Monday to approve the change based on of a model for dress code policies and enforcement processes written by Oregon National Organization for Women.
Under the new code, students will be required to wear a shirt, a bottom and shoes at all times, said Castellano. They will be allowed to wear hats, hooded sweatshirts, fitted pants, midriff baring shirts, ripped jeans, tank tops and athletic attire, which were previously prohibited.
The 2018-2019 dress code specifically prohibited hats and hoods, and included a definition of “modest appearance” that students were expected to follow. The modesty guideline required students to be covered from their shoulders to their thighs, included a required length for skirts and shorts. It restricted tops that showed students’ midriff or back and did not allow students to wear pants made from Spandex material.
All of those restrictions will be lifted this school year.
Board member Lisa Malicki asked why students will be allowed to wear hats and hoods.
“Culturally a lot of students wear hoodies and hats, it’s part of who they are,” said Castellano, “And we never want to prohibit students from being who they are.”
Students will be allowed to wear hats and have their hoods up, said Castellano, but their faces and ears have to be visible at all times so that school staff can identify them and they can be identified on security camera footage.
Some past restrictions do still apply. Students cannot wear anything that depicts language or images related to violence, drugs, alcohol, hate speech, profanity or pornography. Their underwear cannot be visible at any time and they cannot wear bathing suits. Students are also restricted from wearing any accessories that can be used as a weapon, Castellano said.
Another big change with the new code is that teachers will no longer be allowed to discipline students for dress code violations, said Principal Chris Uhle. Students won’t be removed from classrooms for dress code issues, but will be disciplined in the dean of students’ office outside of class time.
“This really helps teachers focus on teaching without the additional and often uncomfortable burden of dress code enforcement,” Castellano said.
Superintendent Jennifer Kelsall emphasized the importance of “awareness of being culturally more sensitive,” and applauded the administration’s use of new research from Oregon NOW to improve practices.
“The real goal is allowing students to dress comfortably for school without fear of unnecessary discipline or body shaming,” said Costellano.
![A jury convicted a Gary man Thursday evening of molesting two preteen girls. Joshua Hansen, 32, of Gary, was convicted of all 21 felonies he faced after a four-day trial, including three counts of Level 1 Felony child molesting. He is facing decades behind bars. Jurors deliberated for about four hours. His sentencing hearing is May 24 before Judge Salvador Vasquez. Hansen testified for about two hours Thursday where he categorically denied the victims’ accusations. During the testimony, his lawyer Marc Laterzo asked Hansen if he fondled one victim, or in another incident, had the other child perform a sex […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Post-Tribune.jpg?w=620 "A jury convicted a Gary man Thursday evening of molesting two preteen girls. Joshua Hansen, 32, of Gary, was convicted of all 21 felonies he faced after a four-day trial, including three counts of Level 1 Felony child molesting. He is facing decades behind bars. Jurors deliberated for about four hours. His sentencing hearing is May 24 before Judge Salvador Vasquez. Hansen testified for about two hours Thursday where he categorically denied the victims’ accusations. During the testimony, his lawyer Marc Laterzo asked Hansen if he fondled one victim, or in another incident, had the other child perform a sex […]")