Cooper B. Hatch Middle School

It is the policy of the Board of Education to allow schools who present certification to the Board to mandate students to wear standardized uniforms in their school. A standardized uniform will consist of a shirt/blouse: pants/skirt and shoes as identified by the individual school as the official uniform. For a school to certify under this policy, a school must furnish the board with the following materials:

• Documentation of efforts to furnish parents, staff and students with educational information on school uniforms.
• Evidence of significant engagement of students, parents, parent organizations, school leadership councils and all staff and employees at the school.
• Certification of Participation agreements from a minimum of 80 percent of the families represented in the school.
• Documentation of consensus of support from the staff to implement school uniforms.
• Agreement from parents and parent organizations to uphold the district's selection of the uniforms.

The intent of the policy is not to inhibit or prohibit any student who is not in uniform from receiving the education to which he or she is entitled. Therefore, no student shall receive a lowered academic grade as a result of non-compliance.

The Board of Education will require students at schools that meet the criteria to dress in the schoo1-specified uniforms on a voluntary basis beginning in September 2004 and on a mandatory basis beginning December 1, 2004. The Board of Education will encourage parents to purchase uniforms from suppliers who observe national and intentional labor laws that seek to end child labor.

Legal References:

• NJSA 18A:11-1 General mandatory powers and duties.
• NJSA 18A:11-7 Findings, declarations relative to school dress codes; adoption of dress code policy for school permitted; prohibition of gang-related apparel.
• NJSA 18A:37-1 Submission of pupils to authority.

Click here for the Hatch Middle School Dress Code.

Adopted: August 30, 2004