Long Beach Unified School District Uniform Initiative: A Prevention-Intervention Strategy for Urban Schools, The

Journal of Negro Education, The, Fall 2003 by Lopez, Rebecca A

Compliance standards also allowed for three circumstances (beyond financial hardship or parent-initiated exemption) when uniform use could be waived. Exceptions to the policy were allowed when students wear (a) buttons, armbands, or other dress to exercise the right to freedom of expression, unless the items are related to gang membership or activity; (b) uniforms of a nationally recognized youth organization such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts on regular meeting days; and (c) school uniforms that violate students' faith-based beliefs (LBUSD, 1997).

Crucial support for this initiative came as the Board and District quickly received bipartisan legislative support for this initiative in Senate Bill 1269. This measure amended the California Education Code to reflect support for school-wide uniform policies or other reasonable dress code policies as a means of combating gang proliferation, weapon concealment, and as a means of promoting student and staff safety:

The children of this state have the right to an effective public school education. Both students and staff of the primary, elementary, junior and senior high school campuses have the constitutional right to be safe and secure in their persons at school. . .many of our public schools are forced to focus on the threat of violence and the messages of violence contained in many aspects of our society, particularly reflected in gang regalia that disrupts the learning environment. (California SB 1269, sec. 1,35183, (a)(l))

Implementation of the uniform policy had some challenges. First, there was resistance by some stakeholders who viewed the policy as an infringement of students' right to freedom of speech. This challenge was resolved by accessible, district-wide waiver policies. About 2% of enrolled students, to date, have requested exemption from the policy for a variety of reasons (LBUSD, 2002). second, some parents indicated financial hardship as a challenge. This challenge was overcome by required provisions for families unable to afford uniform costs. More than $160,000 in financial assistance has been provided by a variety of privately funded resources such as the Assistance League, Long Beach Education Foundation, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Board of Realtors, faith-based communities, and individual donors (LBUSD, 2002). In another example, many graduating students can also donate their used uniforms to families in need (U.S. Department Education, 2002). Informal cost analysis of the uniforms suggests, however, that it is more cost effective for families to dress their children in uniforms instead of spending more money for costlier, commercial dress (LBUSD, 2002; NAESP, 2001).

Equally powerful, however, has been the support of many families for whom school uniforms are a natural, expected standard for schools. Many of the families in Long Beach are recent immigrants from Latin American or Asian countries, most of which have long traditions of requiring uniforms in all schools (R. van der Laan, LBUSD Information Officer, personal communication, January 6, 2002). Adjusting to uniform policies was viewed as very minor and, in fact, was strongly urged by these families. Families, too, were supportive of a policy that would make for a safer environment for their children whose dress would not be viewed as gang or clique attire.