WE can make a difference! As board members and school administrators we can do concrete things to help our students.

Dress Code Explore the pros and cons of uniforms in public schools.

What are our actual priorities in public education?

Dress Code Facts

Since 1994 there has been a steady increase in public school systems adopting strict dress codes. Uniforms. Both Long Beach Unified School District and New Jersey school districts have been leaders in the adoption of uniforms in American public schools. LBUSD has approximately 85,000 students. Philadelphia school districts requires uniforms for all 200,000 students. Seattle schools are beginning the process. Big or small..it can be done.

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LBUSD began in 1994 with instituting uniforms requirements with k-8 and offered high schools to voluntarily join the program. President Bill Clinton was a champion of school uniforms and was supported by President Bush. All schools in the program saw an immediate reduction in discipline issues, police issues, and bullying. The school district saw overall increases in student performance in all grade levels and an increase in graduation rates.

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Parental support in Long Beach has grown to more than 95% approval. New Jersey schools echo these results. Private schools have long proven that the lack of a uniform policy allows a distraction to what school is supposed to be about. Across the board they point to uniforms as an important factor in allowing the student to focus on what they are in school for.

10 cities with most uniformed students in public schools.

Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA New York City, NY Houston, TX Philadelphia, PA Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Washington, DC New Orleans, LA Detroit, MI Jacksonville, FL Atlanta, GA

Schools in 21 states and the District of Columbia have some sort of uniform requirements.
Some cities have widespread uniform use in their public schools: 95% of New Orleans public schools require uniforms 85% of Clevelands public schools require uniforms 80% of Chicagos public schools require uniforms 65% of Bostons public schools require uniforms 60% of Miamis public schools require uniforms 50% of Cincinnatis public schools require uniforms

The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) conducted a phone survey of 755 principals in 2000, which revealed that: 21% of all public schools had a uniform policy 23% of all public, private, and sectarian schools were in the process of creating one, or had firm plans in place to create one.

Cons
The cost of uniforms vs normal clothing. The ACLU has objected to limiting choice. Some point out that the establishment of uniforms tends to curb the individuality of the student. They are denied the opportunity to express themselves because of the uniform. Some say it denies individualism and belief in subculture, whether preppy, hip-hop, punk or jock, and could stymie the students transition from childhood into adulthood.

Priorities
Is the choice Mathmatics, English, History, Literature, Geography, Reading or self expression.

What is school supposed to be about?! What will we do as community leaders, parents and teachers in actually demonstrating what the priorities of public education will be? Will we short change a student or be serious about education! Public education is a 1 shot opportunity.

What is our focus?

Provide an environment which facilitates the best possible learning dynamic for the children of our community. To not short change a single students education. To help protect this communities morals and to foster productive, educated, competitive and insightful graduates able to integrate into the community in which they live.

What can parents do?

Support the elimination of any distraction to learning. Recognize that going to school is for the purpose of gaining an education and thereby improving the lives of their children throughout their lives. Participate in helping their children understand the reasons for going to school are in learning core value subjects. Things that will help them always.

Other facts & information

Uniforms are as simple as kaki or navy slacks/ shorts or skirt and white polo. Time for self expression is adequate outside the 170 days of instructional days 7-3 p.m. There are 195 days of NO school. Students have opportunities to express themselves through clothing after school, at the movies, in the parks, sports events, weekends, spring breaks, christmas break, in service days, etc., etc., etc. Uniforms save money for parents.

Some Headlines from around the country:

More Tacoma School District students are wearing uniformsNews Tribune More N.J. schools turn to student uniforms to improve educationThe Times, Trenton NJ.NJ.com Uniforms help solve many school problems.
Long Beach Press-Telegram Letter to the Editor by Karin Polacheck, LBUSD Board President

School uniforms gaining popularity in Florida

Orlando Sentinal

Uniforms & public schools: dressed for success?

Examiner.com

Lets do something! Lets make a difference!