Dress and Grooming (All Grade Levels)

The district’s dress code teaches grooming and hygiene, prevents disruption, and minimizes safety hazards. Students and parents may determine a student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the following:

• Students shall be clean, well dressed, and neatly groomed. 
  Apparel designed for sleepwear will not be permitted (e.g. pajama pants, house shoes, etc.). 

• Clothing, or tattoos that makes even casual references to drugs or drug paraphernalia, alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, or other electronic vaporizing devices, gangs, weapons, violence, sexual innuendoes, satanic or hostile implications, profanity, organizations or groups (whether real or fictitious) which promote any of the above, or other statement, reference, or depiction deemed inappropriate by the administration or misrepresenting police or other lawful organizations shall not be worn. 

• Any dress, clothing, accessory, or tattoo determined by the principal to be related to gangs will not be permitted on school property, including but not limited to colors, emblems, or style of clothing. Sleeves may not be worn to cover the student’s hands. 

If the principal determines that a student’s grooming or clothing violates the school’s dress code, the student will be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school and return to the classroom. If the problem cannot be corrected at school, the principal will work with the student and parent to obtain an acceptable change of clothing for the student in a way that minimizes loss of instructional time.

Repeated or severe offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

Students who wish to request an exception to the dress code may contact their principal. All exceptions are at the discretion of the principals in accordance with applicable laws and policies.

Scope of Dress and Grooming Code

• This Code is applicable to students during any school activity on or off school property, before, during, and after normal school hours, including nights and weekend activities.

• The principal shall have the authority to designate a modified Code for certain activities, such as but not limited to the Senior Prom, Graduation, school dances, special assemblies, banquets, etc. Students attending such activities shall be expected to comply with the code established by the principal.

• Nothing in the dress code shall interfere with the normal operation of such classes as physical education or other such activities.

Joy James Academy of Leadership Uniform Policy

Joy James Academy of Leadership has an established uniform policy, which is listed below. The purpose of a uniform policy is to promote an environment focused on academic rigor. The wearing of the school uniform signifies community and the student's desire to obtain excellence. Students will follow the uniform guidelines in addition to the district dress code guidelines listed above.

Parents are responsible for providing their student(s) with the required uniform. A request for school assistance for purchasing uniforms must be made in writing to the principal. Further details are available in the principal’s office.

Parents may purchase uniforms from the vendor provided by the district or another provider of choice. Patches with the school’s crest must be purchased from the vendor or at the school and adhered to all shirts meeting the uniform policy. Currently, the vendor of choice is Academic Outfitters.

Pre-K-5th Grade Uniform Requirements 

• Solid collared polo or oxford shirts with the Academy’s crest may be worn in the following approved colors: navy blue, light blue, or white.

• Khaki/navy pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, capris, or jumpers are acceptable; all must be hemmed or cuffed and can be no shorter than three inches above the knee. Jeans (only permitted on Fridays or other announced occasions) must be free of embellishments. Sagging pants are not permissible.

• Sweaters or jackets may be worn with a uniform polo-type shirt underneath.

• Leggings may be worn under the approved clothing.

There are no uniform requirements for footwear. Proper footwear should be worn at all times (shoes should have a full back or strap). Elementary students should wear sneakers or athletic shoes for P.E. Elementary school students should not wear Heelys (shoes with wheels), flip-flops or similar footwear. House shoes are not permitted at any grade-level.

If the principal determines that a student’s grooming or clothing violates the school’s dress code, the student will be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school and return to the classroom. If the problem cannot be corrected at school, the principal will work with the student and parent to obtain an acceptable change of clothing for the student in a way that minimizes loss of instructional time.

Repeated or severe offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

Unacceptable Items All Campuses

• Any item or article that violates the standards listed above.

• Sagging pants.

• Visible undergarments.

• Clothing considered too revealing (bare midriffs, tube tops, tank tops, cut-off shirts, low-cut tops, crop tops, see-through shirts, fishnet clothing).

• Clothing with unallowable holes, tears, or cuts.

• Clothing with lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene pictures, emblems, or language.

• Clothing with advertising that depicts tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs or any substance prohibited under Board Policy FNCF (LEGAL).

• Gang-related clothing, accessories or jewelry bearing signs, insignias, colors, or symbols.

• Sleepwear, and house shoes.

• Except for verified religious clothing, head gear such as hats, scarves, bandanas, do-rags or shower caps.

• Combs, sunglasses or grillz.

• Accessories or body piercings that could be classified as dangerous or as a potential weapon, i.e., chains, spiked necklaces or bracelets, and the like.