The adoption of school uniform policies may promote school safety, improve discipline, and enhance the learning environment.
School uniforms may decrease violence and theft, prevent gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia at school, promote student discipline, help parents and students resist peer pressure, help students concentrate on their school work, and enable school officials to recognize school intruders. Many local communities have adopted school uniform policies as part of an overall program to improve school safety and discipline. Specifically, school uniform regulations have been adopted in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. Many large public school systems have voluntary or mandatory uniform policies, primarily in elementary and middle schools. The following guidelines are presented to aid in the adoption of school uniform policies: get parents involved from the beginning; protect student rights of religious and other expression; determine whether to have a voluntary or a mandatory policy; do not require students to wear a message; assist families that need financial help; and treat school uniforms as part of an overall school safety program. Examples of school districts that have adopted school uniforms are noted.