Changes are coming to the dress code policy for all New York City public school students.
The New York City Council approved legislation Thursday that requires public school dress codes to comply with Title IV, the federal civil rights law that bars discrimination based on gender.
According to Councilmember Althea Stevens, who sponsored the legislation, the goal of the new dress code policy is to eliminate what she called "sexist and hetero-normative dress codes," as well as "standards that target girls and students of color."
The legislation also states that school must take into account the "diverse cultures, gender expression and body diversity" of students, Stevens said. Dress codes must be gender-neutral, the bill states.
"This isn't new. When I was in high school, I remember passing back on the dress code and it was restricting young women more than any one else, and there are so many cultures we need to embrace them in an education system," said Stevens.
Before Thursday's vote, dress code enforcement was left up to individual schools in the city. The resolution passed on Thursday addresses the reporting of dress codes, as well as enforcement, infractions and consequences when it comes to students not complying.
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The Department of Education will work with the City Council to craft new guidelines for the students' dress code.
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The legislation also included a resolution which encourages the DOE to create a universal dress code for all public schools, which would be the first-ever universal dress code policy for NYC students. However, that part was non-binding and not enforceable, according to the Citywide Council on High Schools.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story suggested that a universal dress code had been established for NYC public schools. The legislation approved by City Council requires public school dress codes to comply with Title IV and encourages schools to create a universal dress code, but does not establish an enforceable uniform dress code for all.
