Student Dress Codes
Colorado law establishes clear requirements for school dress code policies that prioritize safety, equity, cultural inclusivity, and nondiscrimination. All public schools, including charter schools, must adopt dress code policies that reflect these principles and comply with applicable state statutes.
In accordance with state law, school dress codes must:
- Promote a safe and orderly learning environment.
- Prohibit attire that is disruptive to the educational setting.
- Be nondiscriminatory and aligned with state and federal civil rights protections, including those related to gender identity and expression.
- Allow all students to select from any clothing options outlined in the dress code, regardless of gender or gender identity.
- Affirm and protect students’ rights to express racial, ethnic, and cultural identity through their hairstyles, including protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, Bantu knots, and headwraps.
- Permit students to wear objects of cultural or religious significance during graduation ceremonies.
Legal Refs.: C.R.S. 22-32-109.1; C.R.S. 22-32-109(1)(ll)(II)); C.R.S. 22-1-142.5; C.R.S. 22-30.5-104; C.R.S. 22-30.5-507; C.R.S. 26.5-1-116.
Contact
Stephanie Aragon
CSI Director of School Policy & Compliance
Policy Development Considerations
When developing or revising dress code policies, school leaders should ensure that policies:
- Foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment.
- Ensure equitable treatment of all students, without bias based on gender, race, ethnicity, culture, or religion.
- Respect students’ rights to self-expression through attire, including during graduation ceremonies and in ways that reflect cultural identity.
- Implement uniform or standard dress requirements fairly and inclusively, in compliance with applicable civil rights laws.
Additional guidance, and a sample dress code policy are provided below: