Bill to allow school uniform policies moving quickly at Capitol

DES MOINES - Schools would have an easier time requiring students to wear uniforms under a measure moving quickly through the Iowa House, but the proposal could run into problems in the Senate.

The House Education Committee approved the measure last week on a 20-2 vote, and it likely will be up for a full House vote by midmonth.

It would authorize school districts to let individual schools or entire districts adopt dress codes that require standard clothing. The measure would go far beyond the current law, which allows schools only to prohibit certain clothing, such as items thought to be gang-related.

The new law was prompted by a dress code implemented in Waterloo but then challenged by parents - and ultimately rejected last month by the state Board of Education - because it effectively required students to wear uniforms. Waterloo school officials have changed their rules to meet the current standard, but schools in other districts have adopted uniform policies that remain in effect because they haven't been challenged.

At Hiatt and Harding middle schools in Des Moines, officials since 2009 have required students to wear “any of the official school shirts” and khaki pants, capri pants, shorts or skirts.

Des Moines school district Superintendent Nancy Sebring said parents haven't challenged the rules because they support the dress code. State Board of Education attorney Carol Greta said officials know the local board has adopted such rules, but they can't do anything because no appeal has been filed.

Cecilia Guzman, a 14-year-old student at Harding Middle School, said she wishes the uniforms were more attractive but thinks they have helped with behavior issues at the school.

“We've been good for the past two years because of the uniforms, but we really don't like them,” Guzman said.

Harding Principal Thomas Ahart said the school has seen fewer behavioral problems and better performance in the classroom since the dress code took effect.

“It was sort of just a real clear, tangible way for everyone to see that we're going to be conducting business here differently. We're going to step everything up a notch, and it was a nice tangible way for parents, staff, students and the community to see we're heading in a different way now,” Ahart said.

Ahart said a number of schools across the state have since contacted him about putting a similar code into place.

And at least three education groups - the Urban Education Network of Iowa, the Iowa Association of School Boards and the School Administrators of Iowa - are supporting the bill moving through the Legislature.

It has bipartisan support in the House, where lawmakers such as Republican Rep. Jeremy Taylor of Sioux City said the bill would give schools more options as they try to improve the learning environment. Taylor, a high school teacher, is managing the bill in the House.

“I think it takes away the power of gang affiliation, and as a teacher I know sometimes clothing can be distracting if a student is showing up in pajamas or something very suggestive, or pants that are sagging down so low it almost becomes a safety issue,” Taylor said. “I think it mitigates some of those concerns.”

But if the measure is approved in the House, it could face some skepticism in the Senate.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, an Ames Democrat and chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said he's heard largely negative comments on the bill.

“It's a long tradition in Iowa that students are allowed to express themselves, and that includes through reasonable dress,” Quirmbach said. “Whether we need to dictate to them what they have to wear may be a reach.”