Illinois Clad

Public School in Chicago, Illinois – Dress Code?

James Monroe Elementary has had a dress code for 6 years or so (white shirts, blue/black pants/skirts, no jeans, no minis, no bare midriff – only blue or white jackets in the winter).
This was not a big deal at first, just a little aggravating.
This year, the dress code consists of “required white polos with the Monroe School logo, to be purchased from the school for $7 each, skirts, jumpers or [dickies style/fabric] pants in navy blue only, no minis, no jeans, no sweat pants/shorts, if pants are worn they MUST have a coordinating belt”.
Can they legally require us to purchase certain clothing from the school, and tell us what fabric the clothes should be made of?
In my opinion, the dress code doesn’t work, especially if the main distractions are the scantily clad and perfumed teachers and staff.
Will my kids be denied a free public education if I do not follow this “new” dress code (if I just send them like before, white shirt/blue pants)?

I would ask the school when the decision was made to change the uniform and who made it.There has to have been a meeting between the local school council and the principle and staff and there must be minutes of this meeting and who voted for the change(these minutes have to made public by the school).The principle can’t make a major decision like this with out having a meeting.You could challenge the dress code but,it may be tricky.You need to attend the next local school council meeting with a large group of parents who feel the way you do and you need to come up with a compromise with the school.There is a school in the pilsen(chicago) neighborhood where the boys have to wear blue dress slacks,black shoes,white dress shirt with a red tie and a black belt.The girls have to wear jumpers or dress slacks with a dress shirt with a peter pan collar and a red snap tie.This school is different because of high gang activity and the parents decided on the mandatory dress code.You could claim a hardship and say you can’t afford the school polos but have your own.They can’t denie your child an education but you will need to come to a compromise.

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