|Extraordinary lives start with a great Catholic education.

DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

Proposed Policy Changes for Discussion

Spring 2024

Mission: Disciples of Christ, nurturing mind, body, and soul to the fullness of life.
Vision: Changing the world through Catholic education.
DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Background

• DPCDSB currently has two dress code policies:

• Policy 7.18: Elementary Schools – Appropriate Dress Code/School Uniforms

• Policy 7.18: Secondary Schools – Appropriate Dress Code and School Uniforms
• Each policy has a companion General Administrative Procedure (GAP) containing
directions and information for schools

• DPCDSB’s dress code policies were last updated in February 2019.

• Updates are required to provide clarity to schools and parents/guardians regarding

DPCDSB expectations for dress for students that support safe an inclusive schools while
respecting the Ontario Human Rights Code.

DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Proposed Policy Changes 7.18

• Proposed policy changes include: K-8
7.19
• Merging of Policy 7.18: Elementary Schools – Appropriate Dress K-12
Code/School Uniforms and Policy 7.18: Secondary Schools –
Appropriate Dress Code and School Uniforms into one policy,
7.19
Policy 7.19: Dress Code and School Uniforms. 9-12

• Splitting the two GAPs into three: one for elementary uniforms,
one for secondary uniforms, and one that details non-uniform
student dress code expectations.
GAP K-8
GAP K-8 Uniforms
Uniforms and
• Removal of subjective language such as “modesty” and Dress Code
GAP 9-12
“appropriate”, which are difficult to define and hard to enforce GAP 9-12 Uniforms
due to variable interpretation. Uniforms and
Dress Code GAP K-12
• Highlighting equity and inclusion through dress code and Dress Code
unform expectations.
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DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations
DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Proposed GAP Changes

• Proposed changes to the non-uniform dress code expectations GAP include:

• Removal of subjective language such as “modesty” and “appropriate”, which are difficult to
define and hard to enforce due to variable interpretation.

• Statement regarding required attire, so school administration and staff have guidelines for
enforcement of the expectations.

• Prohibition of attire promoting hate, discrimination, illegal activity, profanity, violence,

political language, or threats to health and safety.

• Cultural sensitivity regarding impact of dress code expectations.

DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Proposed Dress Code Expectations GAP Changes

• Below are changes related to required attire and the prohibition of attire promoting hate,
discrimination, illegal activity, profanity, violence, or threats to health and safety.

Focus on student dress

that is respectful of the
dignity of the human
person. Easy to interpret
guidelines (torso and
upper legs, to the mid-
thigh, are not exposed).

Prohibition on offensive
and/or inappropriate
content.

DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Proposed Dress Code Expectations GAP Changes

• Below are changes related to cultural sensitivity regarding impact of dress code expectations.

DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Other Content Considerations

• Recommended content updates to the elementary and secondary uniform GAPs include:

• Clarification of local school community consultation process for uniform establishment

(elementary) and changes (secondary):

• In elementary schools seeking to implement a uniform (either a colour scheme or DPCDSB

vendor-supplied uniform), explicit support to do so from 60% or more of the families of
registered students shall be required (reduction from 75%).
• Schools shall ensure that implementation of a uniform in elementary schools shall not create
hardships for students and their families.
• In schools with established uniforms, DPCDSB has developed a minimum consultation process
that ensures community feedback while allowing flexibility to accommodate uniform changes.
• Requirements that uniforms have dark coloured bottoms and recommendations for dark tops.
• The 18-month implementation timeframe has been altered to six months to allow more flexible,
minor changes to established uniforms during the school year.

• Consideration of inclusion of specific uniform items (e.g., blazers, spirit wear, hoodies).
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DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

 DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Assurances that implementation of a
Proposed Uniform GAP Changes uniform at an elementary school
does not result in hardships to
• Below are changes related to the elementary uniform GAP. students and their families.

Reduction
of approval
threshold.

Selection
of darker
colours.*

*Similar language appears in the secondary uniform GAP.

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DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Proposed Uniform GAP Changes In both elementary and secondary

• Below are changes related to the elementary schools seeking to change an existing
uniform, the representative committee’s
and secondary uniform GAPs. mandate is to review stakeholder
feedback, explore with an anti-
oppression lens potential implications
(including affordability) of the changes,
develop a communication plan, and
support implementation of changes, as
appropriate.

Survey of whole school communities is

not recommended for changes to existing
uniforms as failure to secure the required
approval threshold (e.g., 60% of all
families of registered students) could
prevent even minor uniform changes from
proceeding.

DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Proposed Uniform GAP Changes

Updates to
• Below are changes related to the elementary and implementation timelines
secondary uniform GAPs. Note that the secondary GAP and extension of how
excerpt is shown but the text is the same in both long previous uniform
elementary and secondary uniform GAPs. items are permitted.

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DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Feedback
• DPCDSB is seeking your feedback regarding the following
proposed changes:

• Clarity of definitions and updates related to equity and

inclusive education.
• Stating minimum expectations for student dress code.
• Supporting changes to existing uniforms via
representative school committees including students,
staff, administrators, parents, and guardians.
• For elementary schools interested in implementing a This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed

uniform, reducing the threshold of support from 75% of

under CC BY-NC

families of registered students to 60%.

• For families with elementary students, the likelihood to
abide by any new elementary uniform if you did not vote
for it. 11

DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Feedback
• Please share your thoughts on these changes to the DPCDSB dress code and uniform
policy and procedures by completing the feedback form using the link or QR code below.

https://dufferinpeelcatholic.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_06eCFgTrcL8TMO2

• Staff will analyse the findings and make necessary revisions to the dress code and
uniform policy and procedures for presentation to Trustees at the June meeting of the
By-Laws/Policies Review Committee.
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DPCDSB Dress Code Expectations

|Extraordinary lives start with a great Catholic education.

Thank you.