KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Students & School Dress Codes
Last updated: April 1, 2022 12:00 am
This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about the rights of K-12 public school students in RI as they relate to school dress codes.
Public school district policies on these issues vary greatly, and there will sometimes be disagreements about what constitutes appropriate clothing. A school’s dress code policy can usually be found in the student handbook.
People often express who they are and what they believe with what they wear. Because students maintain certain constitutional rights to free expression when they are in a public school, their decisions about their appearance are, to some extent, protected as well.
Last Updated: April 2022
The information below should not be taken as legal advice. If you have additional questions, or if you feel your rights have been violated, please contact the ACLU of RI.
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