Per Policy No. 3224, it is the policy of the Seattle School Board that the student and their parent/guardian hold the primary responsibility in determining the student’s personal attire, hairstyle, jewelry, and personal items (e.g. backpacks, book bags).  Schools are responsible for assuring that student attire, hairstyle, jewelry, and personal items do not interfere with the health or safety of any student and do not contribute to a hostile or intimidating environment for any student.

Definitions

For this Policy and Procedure, the following definitions apply:

• Attire is defined as the clothing worn by a person. 
• Hairstyle is defined as the particular way in which a person’s hair is cut or arranged, including but not limited to, color, braids, twists, locks, and natural textures and styles.
• Personal Items is defined as items that belong to someone and are small enough to be carried (e.g. backpacks, purses, cellular phones, tote bags, etc.).
• Equitably is defined as treating everyone in a fair, impartial, and like manner.
• Body Shaming is defined as criticism of someone based on the shape, size, or appearance of their body.
• Marginalization is defined as treatment of a person or group as insignificant or peripheral.
• Pornographic is defined as depictions containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate sexual excitement.
• Threat is defined as an expression of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage or other hostile action on someone.
• Illegal Conduct is defined as behavior in violation of a law.
• Hate Group is defined as a social group that advocates and practices hatred, hostility, or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, nation, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other designated sector of society. A hate group’s primary purpose is to promote animosity, hostility, and malice against persons belonging to a race, religion, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnicity/national origin which differs from that of the members of the organization. 
• Gang is defined as any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, having as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal acts, and whose members or associates individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity.
• Religious Attire is defined as clothing and personal items worn in accordance with religious practice, tradition, or significance to a faith group. Religious attire may include, but is not limited to, a hijab, turban, bonnet, and yarmulke. 
• Private Part is defined as a place on the human body which is customarily covered by clothing in public venues and conventional settings. Nipples, genitals, and buttocks are private parts. 

Policy Cross References

• 3224 – Student Dress

Approved

• August 30, 2019