A group of Duval parents and teachers say the school district’s dress code is too subjective and enforced unequally.
The Duval County Council of Parent Teacher Associations approved a dress code resolution this week calling on the School Board to make a slate of changes to the dress code.
The requests include removing head covering and tank tops bans and getting rid of subjective language like "distracting," "overly-tight" and "form-fitting."
Parents say these policies are often enforced unequally across lines of race, gender and religious identity.
"The Duval County Council of PTAs requests the DCPS Dress Code be updated to promote the physical and mental health and well-being of its students in their learning environment, free of bias," the resolution reads.
The parents’ also cite experts who say discipline under the policy can negatively affect the mental health of students — oftentimes young girls.
Duval Schools is currently undergoing its annual code of conduct review process.
"The dress code is part of our Student Code of Conduct. Dress code policy is reviewed annually through a representative process," district representative Sonya Duke-Bolden wrote in an emailed statement. "Students, teachers, parents, and school administrators all provide input and discuss recommendations for change."
The annual code of conduct review process typically runs from January to July. The district collects input from community stakeholders during this process.
Using that input, the School Board will likely vote on recommended changes to the code of conduct, which could include dress code, this summer.
Last fall, a group of Duval County high school students protested that the district’s dress code asked girls to sacrifice their comfort so boys didn't get distracted.
The protest came after neighboring St. Johns County students made national news last school year when their pictures were edited to be more modest in yearbook photos, prompting a federal investigation.
