In order to promote a safe and healthy school setting and enhance the educational environment, a code of conduct or discipline policy adopted by a board of education may include a reasonable dress code, or may establish a school uniform to be worn by the students attending one or more district schools. Any such dress code or uniform policy shall be included in the code of conduct or discipline policy only if all of the following conditions are met:
(A) Any specific uniform selected for a school shall be determined by the district board after affording ample opportunity for principal, staff, and parents to offer suggestions and comments.
(B) No specific uniform shall be required in any school until the parents of the students in the school have been given six months notice.
(C) No specific uniform shall be required in any school unless the board includes in the policy adopted under this section a procedure to assist parents of economically disadvantaged students to obtain uniforms. This procedure may include using school district funds or funds from other sources to provide this assistance.
(D) Any policy requiring uniforms shall provide exceptions for students participating in a nationally recognized youth organization that establishes its own uniforms, on those days that such organization has a scheduled function.
Effective Date: 10-29-1996.