HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
When classes in the Harrisburg School District begin in the fall, jeans and T-shirts will be out.
There's a new dress code detailing what students in all grades can wear to class. They won't have to wear uniforms, but there are very strict rules about clothing length and colors.
"It's certainly going to take the stress of getting up in the morning and saying 'oh, what am I going to wear?'" school board member Lola Lawson said.
Lawson believes the new dress code will help students focus on learning, not labels.
The dress code, according to the district website, states that boys shall wear tan, Navy, gray or black pants belted at the waist, and a solid-color polo, uniform-style or button-down shirt with either short or long sleeves.
Navy, tan, gray or black knee-length shorts, belted at the waist, may be worn from April 15 to October 15.
Girls will be permitted to wear either tan, Navy, gray or black pants that are belted at the waist, or knee to ankle-length skirts. Knee-length shorts belted at the waist may be worn from April 15 to October 15.
The rule for shirts is the same as for boys, and the only outerwear permitted is a solid-color cardigan sweater.
Considered "unacceptable" are polo shirts with stripes, emblems or designs; printed or multi-colored undershirts; white T-shirts; clothing made from any knit material such as Spandex or Lycra; denim of any color; outerwear such as jackets, vests, fleece, and sweatshirts; hats, do-rags, scarves, and hair nets; any clothing that bares the shoulders or midriffs; and pants sagging below the waist.
"It puts away that rivalry that they have," Lawson said. "A lot of kids have had physical altercations. It makes them a target for bullying."
Chavalier Floyd is about to start fifth grade at Camp Curtin and is looking forward to the change.
"Short shorts and all that stuff are unnecessary for school," she said.
"I don't like the idea of a dress code because I think people should be able to wear what they want," sophomore Chardonnay Adams said. "I don't think it's going to help anybody learn better."
Lawson maintains that rivalries and bullying will go down and test scores will go up.
"I think this is wonderful step forward in revamping the Harrisburg School District and I'm excited about it," she said.
Back-to-school shopping may be different, but parents we spoke with said they don't think it will be more expensive. They said the dress code will simply change what they buy, not how much they spend.
