School Uniforms in PGCPS

[Anonymous]

Curious if anyone knows why certain elementary schools have uniforms and others don't? Or how to go about trying to change your school to uniforms-only? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious if anyone knows why certain elementary schools have uniforms and others don't? Or how to go about trying to change your school to uniforms-only? Thanks!

Years ago, parents chose whether or not to be uniform schools.
There is a whole process to get a uniform policy enacted or withdrawn and it would likely take over a year. https://www.pgcps.org/offices/ograc/board-policies/board-policies-0000---basic-commitments/bp-0114---school-uniforms

Basically it requires that 50% of parents agree to have a uniform. Not 50% of respondents but if there are 700 families at a school 350 have to respond yes. In my experience, parents at non-uniform schools do not want the change and getting that level of family engagement on this issue is unlikely given the number of parents who show up to most PTSA events. Our middle school floated the idea of enacting a policy and there was a lot more opposition than they were expecting.


"A school may adopt a mandatory uniform program without further approval from the Board, subject to the following guidelines:
The process for adopting a mandatory school uniform program shall be initiated by a petition from 20% of the parent(s) or guardian(s) at the school in favor of adoption.
Once a qualifying petition is submitted, the school shall organize and convene a School Uniform Committee to assist in the development of the mandatory school uniform program.
The School Uniform Committee shall facilitate a ballot voting method to determine whether the school will have a mandatory school uniform program and it shall take the affirmative vote of all ballots returned to the school by at least 50% of the parents or guardians to establish a mandatory school uniform program.
For compliance purposes for schools with mandatory uniform policies, if students fail to wear uniforms, schools will develop incentives and other positive reinforcement measures in consultation with the student's parents or guardians in lieu of disciplinary actions.
The School Uniform Committee will establish mechanisms to accommodate families who may require assistance in obtaining a uniform.
Once the mandatory uniform policy has been established by the affirmative vote of at least 50% of the parents or guardians at the school, the mandatory uniform program will remain in effect for five years or until 20% of the parents or guardians petition against the program, at which time the school will conduct a new process following the same procedures for adoption of a mandatory uniform program. The mandatory uniform program will remain in effect until the new process is completed and the mandatory uniform program is repealed or renewed."

Schools can adopt a voluntary uniform policy more easily.

[Anonymous]

Also, there really aren't any consequences if kids don't wear uniforms so why would teachers want to fight that battle.