WS/FC Schools Considers Updates To Student Dress Code

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is considering making changes to its student dress code. The goal is to make the policy more gender-neutral.

In July, a high school student submitted a request to the district for the revisions. There are concerns that the current language targets the clothing of females. 

With a new policy, words like tube tops and spaghetti straps would be removed, and now say all shirts or tops must have straps and sleeves.

Underpants and bras would be changed to say undergarments may not be shown or worn as outerwear. And instead of referencing provocative, revealing attire that exposes cleavage, it would now say necklines of all attire should be no lower than the top of the underarm. 

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools says it's taking a hard look at all of its policies, and the current dress code is outdated.

"The desire after speaking to the student was really to add more clarity with the students and what can and can't be worn but also to make the references more neutral in their application to both male and female students," says Dionne Jenkins, the school system's attorney.

Some board members say more discussion is needed before the full board votes on the matter. The district will post the revised dress code proposal on its website to collect public input in the coming days.

Those comments will be shared with the policy committee and the full school board is expected to discuss it for a vote later this month or in early September.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news