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November 29, 2009

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Editorial: Dress codes need study

Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 | 9:42 a.m.

School uniforms may or may not be an essential component of higher achievement in public schools. There are no conclusive studies to support either position. Now might be an opportunity to begin such a study, however.

Sixteen schools in the Clark County School District last fall had dress-code policies that were more strict than the district-wide policy. The issue sparked lengthy debate and even a court challenge. Following a judge's recommendation, the board directed the 16 schools to survey the students' parents. The stricter policy would be allowed only at those schools where at least 55 percent of the parents approved.

Refreshingly, parents at 15 of the 16 schools approved. This spring, more parents will be surveyed and undoubtedly more schools will adopt the stricter policy. We believe school uniform policies do work in the sense that clothing no longer poses a distraction from classwork. But there's one way to find out. The district will have a sizable base to study. In a few years it could report results that would be of interest to districts nationwide.

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