A Lexington County school district appears on its way to revising its dress code for the first time in almost two decades.

At its regular Feb. 28 meeting, Lexington County School District 1 will vote to give final approval to a measure to adjust the policy that hasn’t been changed since 2004. If approved, it would be the seventh change to the dress code since it was adopted in October 1972.

Some notable changes to the policy include allowing headwear, adding student ID requirements, and changing the consequences of dress code violations.

The revisions were shaped with help from superintendent councils made up of teachers, students, parents, principals, assistant principals and senior leadership.

Clark Cooper, interim chief of student services, brought the current revisions to the board at its regular Dec. 13 meeting. The policy he brought forth included revisions from these councils. According to the board, these revisions have put focus on preserving and maintaining an effective learning environment and treating students with dignity, discretion and respect. 

“Students will dress in appropriate clothing that follows the district dress code policy,” a revised portion of the dress code reads, providing more specific expectations for the restrictions on student attire. “Logos or clothing that promotes alcohol, drugs, tobacco, hate, gang affiliation, nudity, violence, or profanity is not allowed. No clothing or accessories are allowed to disrupt the educational process. The administration reserves the right to determine what is appropriate for school.” 

This revision replaces: 

“Parents/Legal guardians have the right to determine how the student will dress providing that such attire is not destructive to school property, complies with requirements for health and safety and does not interfere with or disrupt the educational process or environment or pose a likelihood of such interference or disruption. The administration is authorized to take action in instances where an individual's dress does not meet the stated requirements.”

Also added to the code was a provision that “enforcement … will be handled with dignity, discretion, and respect toward all students by school staff members throughout the district.”

When it comes to violations of the dress codes, all but one consequence would see a change if the board votes to approve on Feb. 28:

• On the first violation, which saw no revisions, the student is brought in for a conference.
• The second violation is met with a student/parent conference, but under the revision, a specific directive for the student to receive detention would be removed.
• The third violation again is met with a student/parent conference. Under the revision, a specific directive that the student is to receive in-school suspension was changed to giving the student detention.
• The fourth violation again is met with a student/parent conference. Under the revision, a specific directive for the student to receive in-school or out-of-school suspension was stiffened, adding that “continued violations may result in a recommendation for expulsion.”

The Chronicle reached out to all Lexington 1 board members but did not receive responses to our requests for comment.