Dress Code

District Wide Dress Code

Students have a responsibility to be dressed and groomed in a manner that is consistent with the Student Conduct and Discipline Code. The principal shall determine when a student’s personal hygiene, appearance, or dress is such that it disrupts or interferes with the educational process or endangers the health and safety of the student or others.

Students who attend the RIVEROAK Technical College shall dress in a manner appropriate for the job in which they are receiving training, including any special protective gear and professional uniforms. [§1001.43(1)(b), Florida Statutes]

1. Footwear must be worn at all times.

a. At the elementary school level, flip flops and shoes with wheels are not acceptable.

b. At the middle and high school levels, bedroom slippers, cleated shoes, and shoes with wheels are not acceptable.

2. Jewelry worn in pierced body parts shall be of a nature that is not distracting to others.

3. All middle and high school students shall be required to wear appropriate dress for physical education as prescribed by the school.

4. The following items have potential to cause disruption or threat to a safe and positive school environment and are not allowed:

a. Decorations, symbols, mottos, or designs imprinted or attached to the body or clothing which is offensive to good taste or the maintenance of good decorum. Examples include, but are not limited to, wearing advertisements of commodities, such as alcoholic beverages, drugs, tobacco, and symbols or writings that have sexual or racial connotation, gang references, or profane language.

b. Revealing clothing or clothing that exposes the torso. Examples include, but are not limited to: see-through garments; bare midriff clothing that allows any area of the midriff (front and back) to be exposed when sitting, standing, or raising the arm; backless attire; sleepwear; skin-tight clothing (i.e., bike pants, tights, leotards, jeggings, leggings); shirts/blouses that do not extend to or over the cap of the shoulder from the base of the neck.

c. Clothing that is not worn appropriately, is not properly fastened, or has rips, holes, or tears. Clothes shall be worn as they are designed, for example, suspenders over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belt-buckled, no underwear as outerwear, no underwear exposed, no oversized or baggy pants.

d. Skirts, dresses, shorts, and skorts that are shorter than four inches above the top of the knee cap are not acceptable. These items worn with leggings or tights are not acceptable.

e. Caps, hats, headgear, visors, bandanas, or sunglasses while in the building and/or other areas designated by the principal. No hoodies with hoods worn over the head are allowed at any time.

f. Chains, other than necklaces considered to be jewelry. Examples include, but are not limited to, heavy chains generally used for utility purposes, animal choke collars, and so-called hip-hop chains.

g. Jewelry that contains any type of sharp object and mood bracelets.

Note: The principal or designee has the final authority for determining whether or not a student’s apparel conforms to the dress code. The principal or designee may prohibit the use of clothing or items that cause disruption during school, on school transportation, or during school sponsored events. When it is determined that the apparel is inappropriate, the parent/guardian will be asked to bring clothing to the school which conforms to the Student Conduct and Discipline Code. Repeated violations of dress code guidelines will be considered insubordination and will be subject to disciplinary interventions.

Per Florida Statute 1006.07, clothing that exposes underwear or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or that disrupts the orderly learning environment shall, on first offense, receive a verbal warning and the principal shall call the student’s parent/guardian. For a second offense, the student is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity for a period not to exceed five days and the school principal must meet with the student’s parent/guardian. For a third or subsequent offense, a student must receive an in-school suspension for a period not to exceed three days and the student is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activities for a period not to exceed 30 days, and the school principal must call the student’s parent/guardian and write a letter regarding the student’s suspension and ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.

Link to Student Code of Conduct

Please click this link to view the entire Student Code of Conduct in English or Spanish.