South Carolina State Bill 3050 proposes uniforms for all Public School Students

By Billy Hathorn (Own work)
[CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

SC State Rep. Cezar McKnight (D) has sponsored a bill in South Carolina to require school uniforms for all public school students. House Bill 3050 includes exceptions for physical education classes and for extracurricular activities. The bill requires that the state Department of Education develop rules and regulations governing the establishment and enforcement of its dress code program to include three main objectives.

The objectives address common concerns for parents and administrators.  First is to provide a standard that includes a variety of seasonal options, as well as a color scheme that permits flexibility for the school principle to make modifications for school colors.  Secondly, it requires that the required uniform be available at an affordable price for the average family.  Third, it includes a provision to assist students eligible for free or reduced lunch to obtain five sets of school uniforms for each season.

The bill has been referred to House Committee on Education and Public Works. I'll update this post should this bill pass out of committee to the next stage of the state legislative process.

French Toast to Ship Internationally

Heads up to our readers outside the US -
French Toast now offers international shipping.

Regular readers of this blog will recognize the brand French Toast as a US based children's school uniform and fashion retailer. You can order direct online and find their clothing in many US retail stores. International purchases are managed through Borderfree. They are sent to the Borderfree shipping hub in the United States and then Borderfree ships the order to its international destination.

You can read more about their company background the types of items they carry in their school uniform collection in our French Toast retail roundup post. Uniform Mom is an affilaite partner with French Toast, so you can also check out some of their products that have been reviewed or featured:

• French Toast Dollars in Uniform Fundraiser Program
• French Toast Two Tab Scooter and Polo from Rainbow Shops
• French Toast brand Skinny Stretch Twill Pant and Peter Pan Blouse, a Review
• Belts for Kindergarteners
• Reviews of Girls Cardigan Uniform Sweaters

School Uniforms in the News - Back to School 2015 edition

Below are articles that feature school uniforms from all over the world! They are complied from my twitter stream. Follow me at @NavyPlaid to get updates on these types of headlines as they are published.

Features:

• The true value of school uniform CWB - Childrenswear Buyer Magazine: ow.ly/2buJfy
• Parents dig deep into pockets as kids head back to class ow.ly/2buvxL

Assistance Efforts:

• LISD receives over 20000 in school uniform donations - goo.gl/alerts/ENa4
• Jeezy Donates 1,000 Backpacks to Atlanta Elementary School Children - DJBooth -klou.tt/akpvieqkxoq7
• Christmas in July benefit helps local families in need - goo.gl/alerts/Dskh
• School supply drives planned around the Lowcountry (Charleston, SC)goo.gl/alerts/BjL1
• Back-to-school supply drives and and a giveaway happening this weekend - (Mobile, AL) goo.gl/alerts/AzwI
• Lyndhurst Health Department (NJ) collecting backpack and school uniform donations -goo.gl/alerts/lt3j

Enforcement Issues:

• Aguillard sets rule for uniform shorts length - goo.gl/alerts/wbLZ
• Students given timeouts at Wainuiomata High School (New Zealand) for incorrect shoes - goo.gl/alerts/HVFr

US School Boards Discuss School Uniforms:

• Volusia County School Board (FL) discusses school uniforms - goo.gl/alerts/cUYx
• Hillsborough schools will be stricter on dress codes - goo.gl/alerts/ZGL

(photo used with permission from Microsoft Press)

Florida HB 7043 - Standard Student Attire

Many students in Florida already wear uniform or student standard attire to schools.  According to articles, cities like Miami and  Jacksonville have the some highest percentages of students wearing uniforms in the US. A new bill filed in Florida yesterday could increase those numbers statewide.

Last week, the K-12 subcommittee filed a bill in the Florida House of Representatives for consideration after its first reading.  The bill was assigned number 7043 and titled, Student Standard Attire.  The bill states the following details:

"The purpose of a standard student attire policy is to provide a safe environment that fosters learning and improves school safety and discipline by:

1. Encouraging students to express their individuality through personality and academic achievements, rather than outward appearance. 
2. Enabling students to focus on academics, rather than fashion, because they are able to project a neat, serious, and studious image. 
3. Minimizing disciplinary problems because students are not distracted by clothing. 
4. Reducing the time needed to correct dress code violations through a readily available inventory of compliant"

And according to the bill's summary, here's how it aims to accomplish the stated purpose:

• authorizes school boards to adopt standard student attire policy; 
• limits liability for districts that implement attire policy; 
• creates safe schools allocation to provide funding for certain safe schools activities; 
• provides for withholding of funds from districts that do not comply with certain school safety & student discipline reporting
• authorizes additional funds for districts that implement standard student attire policy (up to $10 per K-8 student in qualified schools);
• provides appropriation.

You can track this bill's progress or read the full bill for yourself. The bill awaits scheduling in the full education committee.  Here at Uniform Mom, we'll be following its progress and let you know of any updates.  Parents living in Florida can contact their state representative to share their opinion for or against this bill.

Image credit - Tallahassee FL Old Capitol rear01 by Ebyabe  CC-BY-SA 3.0

Video Pick: A Global Perspective on School Uniforms

This video pick is from Euronews. It is a great piece highlighting use of school uniforms in different countries around the world.