A Consistent Attire Program (CAP) that is being considered by 11 Wicomico County elementary schools was approved on 1st reading by the Board of Education at its Feb. 14 meeting, and public comment is now being taken. CAP is expected to be on the April 10 agenda for 2nd reading and a vote.
The draft policy statement on consistent attire and a November presentation on CAP are posted on the Board’s home page at www.wcboe.org, under Spotlight. The presentation from the Feb. 29 parent information meeting and fashion show at Prince Street Elementary is also posted.
The following elementary schools have indicated interest in CAP: Beaver Run, Charles H. Chipman, Delmar, East Salisbury, Glen Avenue, North Salisbury, Pemberton, Pinehurst, Prince Street, Wicomico Early Learning Center, and West Salisbury Elementary.
Public comment is welcome at comments@wcboe.org, at 410-677-5251, or at Public Input, Wicomico Schools, PO Box 1538, Salisbury MD 21802.
At the request of the Board, the updated draft policy statement includes information about consequences for violations of consistent attire, and procedures for approving (or discontinuing) a consistent attire program. According to the draft policy statement, “If at least 70% of the parent surveys are returned and 60% of those parents are in favor of consistent attire, the plan will be submitted to the Board of Education for approval.”
Jason Miller, assistant principal of Prince Street Elementary, and Jennifer Rice, assistant principal of North Salisbury Elementary, have been leading the team that is researching CAP and helping schools survey parents to learn their interest in a CAP to ensure consistent attire. Consistent attire, like uniforms, can build team spirit, improve school climate, encourage appropriate attire, reduce bullying and peer pressure over clothes, decrease discipline issues, and make the morning routine easier for families, they said.
At the schools surveyed last fall, response was strongly favorable to the question “Do you think Wicomico County Public Schools should consider consistent attire for next year if your child had choices?” Staff members overwhelmingly favored a CAP for students. Most parents who responded to the CAP survey agreed that CAP would make it easier for students to get ready in the morning, would help stop teasing about clothes, and would save families money on clothes. The majority of students grades 3-5 who responded to a survey said they would like to wear consistent attire next year if they had a choice.
If the Board approved the CAP in April, that would leave plenty of time to inform families that it would take effect for the 2012-13 school year and alert local clothing merchants to the new program.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
6 comments:
In my opinion...this should apply more to middle and high schools. Those are the schools where attire needs to be decent and inline and less competitive.
i think it should be all schools.
I agree -- all schools but more importantly middle and high. I think the county should pass it for the upper levels before worrying about the lower levels. And what is the point in CAP at an elementary level if 1-2 years later they will go to a middle/high where there is no CAP?
the current dress code is not enforced...how in the world is this one going to be enforced? really....?
As a person in education, it can be difficult to enforce when we have had parents bringing it back on us like "Why are you looking at my son/daughter like that?". And this happens more than you think. Educators need the help from home.
most of these school have a very high percentage of students who receive free and reduced meals. how are the clothes going to be paid for, for all of those families who cannot afford it??
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