Home : Student Rights : Dress Codes and Uniforms

ACLU of New Jersey Helps Protesting Student "Skirt" School's No-Shorts Policy (01/25/2006)
NEWARK, NJ - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today announced that it has reached an agreement with the Hasbrouck Heights School District on behalf of Michael Coviello, a 17-year-old male student who was prohibited from wearing a skirt to school.

ACLU Defends Utah High School Students Censored for Wearing Gay-Themed Anti-Smoking T-Shirts (05/11/2004)
SALT LAKE CITY - The American Civil Liberties Union today came to the defense of a group of Utah high school students who were punished for wearing ""Queers Kick Ash"" t-shirts to school. School officials also threatened to ban the school's gay-straight alliance, and dozens of students are planning to wear the t-shirts today in protest.

After ACLU Intervention on Behalf of Christian Valedictorian, Michigan High School Agrees to Stop Censoring Religious Yearbook Entries (05/11/2004)
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today announced an out-of-court settlement between the Utica Community School District and a local student over the censorship of her 2001 yearbook entry. The student's entry had been deleted from the yearbook because it contained a passage from the Bible.

Michigan School Reverses Student's Suspension For Wearing "Anarchy" T-Shirt (05/10/2004)
DETROIT - Officials with Bay City Schools have changed their minds about suspending a high school student for wearing a t-shirt with an anarchy symbol, after the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan appealed the suspension, the ACLU announced today.

Judge Rules in Favor of Michigan Student's Right to Wear Anti-War T-Shirt to School (10/01/2003)
DETROIT - In a victory for students' free speech rights, a federal judge has ruled that the Dearborn teenager who was prohibited from wearing a t-shirt with a picture of President Bush that reads, "International Terrorist" must be allowed to wear the shirt to school.

ACLU Assists RI High School Student Barred From Mentoring Children Because of Her Hair Color (12/11/2002)
PROVIDENCE, RI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today called on members of the Portsmouth School Committee to reverse an unwritten policy that bars an 18-year-old high school honors student from mentoring elementary school students because of her purple hair.

At ACLU Urging, FL High School Ends Discriminatory Graduation Dress Code (05/23/2002)
MIAMI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Equality Florida today applauded the decision of a local high school principal to do away with a discriminatory dress code which required senior girls to wear dresses or skirts with hemlines above their graduation gowns during the ceremony.  

VA Middle School Student with Blue Hair Allowed to Return to Class After ACLU Intervention (04/29/2002)
NORFOLK, VA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia said today that Norview Middle School officials have allowed sixth-grader Jesse Doyle to return to class after he was told he could not come back until his hair had returned to its original color.

ACLU Says Louisiana Dress Code Denies Rastafarian Children the Right to an Education (09/18/2000)
LAFAYETTE, LA--The American Civil Liberties Union believes that Rastafarian children have the right to enroll in and attend school without having to choose between their religion and their education. In pursuit of that right, the ACLU today filed a lawsuit on behalf of two parents and their eight children who profess and practice the Rastafarian faith, tradition and belief system.

Court Orders School to Enroll Honors Student Who Protested Mandatory Uniform Policy (08/15/2000)
ALBUQUERQUE -- A sixth-grade honors student in Las Cruces started school today with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, when a federal judge forced officials to enroll him after they turned him away because he opposes school uniforms.

ACLU and 18 Texas Families Sue to Stop 'Prove Your Religion' School Uniform Policy (03/16/2000)
FORNEY, TX -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas today sued a school district here on behalf of 18 families saying that students should not be forced to submit proof of faith to be exempted from the mandatory school uniform policy.

Student Prevails in NC School Uniform Dispute (01/11/2000)
In a settlement with officials at McIver Elementary School in Halifax, Aaron Ganues, who was twice suspended for failure to wear the school uniform, will be allowed a religious exemption from wearing the uniform for the remainder of his public school education. 

ACLU Challenges Louisiana School's Ban on Armbands As Violation of Students' First Amendment Rights (11/01/1999)
BOSSIER CITY, LA -- Reenacting a 30-year-old landmark constitutional debate, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a sophomore honor student who was threatened after she wore a black armband in protest of a mandatory school uniform policy.

ACLU Victorious in Texas Black Arm Band Case (08/30/1999)
ALLEN, TX -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said today that it has settled a federal court case filed on behalf of a high school senior who was suspended for wearing a black armband as part of a five-day silent demonstration.