Girls, students of color, and LGBTQ students are disproportionately impacted by public school dress codes that target clothing and hairstyles, according to a federal report released Tuesday.
Nearly all K-12 school districts have a policy regulating dress, according to the U.S. Government Accounting Office, which analyzed data from 236 districts across the country. The policies raise concerns about equity and safety for at-risk students, the report said.
About 90% of the dress codes prohibit clothing typically associated with girls, such as short skirts, spaghetti strap tank tops and leggings, the report said. About 69% of dress code policies target clothing often worn by boys, including muscle shirts and sagging pants, according to the 60-page report.
