Uniform Studies & Legislation
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, however, 23% had firm plans to create one. However, this only accounts for those with school uniform policies, and not for standardized dress codes, which still provide for allowable student dress but are slightly more lax on certain aspects, for instance, instead of requiring everyone to wear exactly the same shirt, or set of shirts, they may specify "any solid collared three button Polo/oxford shirt" and leave more specific details up to the parents. In fact, in 2007-2008 55% of public school principals said the schools they control enforces a strict dress code, requiring students at least wear a collared shirt and pants with an acceptable belt to school.
Adolfo Santos, a political science professor at the University of Houston–Downtown, stated that many Hispanic communities in the United States choose uniforms because many immigrants originate from countries with schools requiring uniforms.
Sylvan I. Alleyne, Velma LaPoint, Jennifer Lee and Harold W. Mitchell of The Journal of Negro Education stated that little empirical research exists regarding how effective school uniforms are in how effectively uniforms enhance academic performance and social environments, and also that little research exists regarding teachers' beliefs regarding the nature of issues related to dress codes, and especially so regarding racial and ethnic minorities. In the United States, literature regarding public school student clothing and behavior cites anecdotal viewpoints from teachers, and the literature discussed opinions on faculty, staff, and other employees on how to deal with student dress issues. A 2003 article of The Journal of Negro Education said that research and reports regarding the beneficial impact of school uniforms was not conclusive. Also, despite the Federal Government of the United States issuing a set of guidelines encouraging school uniform usage in American public schools, as of 2003 political support for uniforms varies.
In 1994, the Long Beach Unified School District, in Southern California, required school uniforms in all elementary and middle schools. This began a trend for uniforms in American elementary public schools, especially in urban school districts. President Clinton praised the idea in his 1996 State of the Union Address, saying that "if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms." The adoption of school or district-wide uniform policies (or "standardized dress codes," less rigid than school uniform requirements but allowing some leeway within set parameters) has been motivated by a need to counter "gang clothing" (or the pressure for families to purchase upscale-label clothing to avoid their children being ignored by "fashion cliques"), as well as to improve morale and school discipline.
By 2010, the proportion of US public schools requiring uniforms had increased from 3% in 1996 to 25%.
In Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Department of Education requires all students to wear school uniforms, with only medical exemptions.
Read more about this topic: School Uniform, By Country, United States
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