Most schools have a prescribed dress code that students must follow or face punishment. The point of a dress code is to ensure that other students, faculty, and staff are not offended unnecessarily. Unfortunately, dress codes have also been shown to diminish the creativity students have when learning their style. It also has the issue of tending to hypersexualize students and put the blame of sexual assault, unwanted advances, and bullying back on the victim.

Philadelphia, though, has implemented a new dress code, one that is meant to support students from all different backgrounds, putting the focus back on academic, social, and emotional growth. If you or someone you know has been accused of violating the dress code at your school, or if you believe you are being discriminated against for how you are expressing your uniqueness, the LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team can help.

Call the LLF Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online. 

Philadelphia School District's New Dress Code

In October 2024, the Philadelphia School District made a number of changes to its dress code policy. Whereas it used to force a certain dress code on students so that their clothing or appearance did not create a health or safety hazard, it now states that students have the right to dress in a manner that celebrates who they are – their gender identities, race, culture, and religion. The hope is that this new approach will allow students to focus on their academic, social, and emotional growth. 

The new dress code goes on to explain what protected hairstyles are, such as braids, puffs, twists, wigs, afros, and locs, including those with headbands, wraps, barrettes, beads, and bonnets, and clarifies that no student will be discriminated against because of their hair texture. Moreover, the new policy upholds the students' rights to dress in a way that reflects their religious belief and gender identity and expression. These key pieces of the students' identities cannot be restricted or banned. And no student can be denied entry into the school or punished because they are not following the dress code, nor can they be punished for not having the resources to comply with it. 

How the LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help

Dress codes throughout the country predominantly target girls, and minority races and religions. While the Philadelphia School District has implemented this inclusive dress code, most school districts in the United States maintain racist and sexist appearance policies. If you believe your school or teacher is discriminating against you for your appearance, the LLF Law Firm can help.

The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team has helped students all around Pennsylvania. They will leverage this experience to ensure your school is held accountable. Call the LLF Law Firm today for help at 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.