GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	2
HOUSE BILL 645
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/25/01

Short Title:	School Dress Code and Appearance Policies.	()	
Sponsors:	     	
Referred to:	     	
March 15, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO require local boards of education to adopt DRESS CODE AND APPEARANCE POLICIES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES. 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(39)	To Adopt Dress Code and Appearance Policies for Students and Public School Employees. – The State of North Carolina respects a student's right to choose his or her style of dress or appearance. Local boards of education shall adopt dress code and appearance policies that require students to adhere to standards of dress that are compatible with the requirement of a good school environment. Such a policy shall provide that if a student's dress is such that it disrupts the learning environment or constitutes a threat to health or safety, the principal or the principal's designee may require the student and student's parent or guardian to take appropriate action to remedy the situation. Principals shall maintain guidelines to implement the student dress code and appearance policy, copies of which shall be made available to parents and students.
Local boards of education shall adopt dress code and appearance policies that require public school employees to adhere to standards of dress that are compatible with the requirement of a good school environment. Such a policy shall provide that if a public school employee's dress is such that it disrupts the learning environment or constitutes a threat to health or safety, the principal or the principal's designee may require the employee to take appropriate action to remedy the situation. Principals shall maintain guidelines to implement the employee dress code and appearance policy, copies of which shall be made available to all public school employees."
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2001‑2002 school year.