Austin ISD Employee Standards of Conduct

DRESS AND GROOMING

Employees shall act as role models by exemplifying the highest standard of professional appearance for the educational purposes of teaching community values and proper grooming and hygiene.

STAFF: GENERAL GUIDELINES

The dress and grooming of District employees shall be clean, neat, in a manner appropriate for their assignments, and in accordance with the following standards:

1. Dresses and all outer garments shall fit properly and be of an acceptable length.
2. Halters, tank tops, see-through garments, or clothing with revealing/provocative necklines, bare backs, bare midriff, or spaghetti straps shall not be permitted. In addition, clothing with symbols, phrases, or slogans advertising tobacco, alcohol products, or any controlled substances are unacceptable.
3. If shirttails are made to be worn tucked in, they must be tucked in. If shirttails are worn in, and pants are designed to be worn with a belt, a belt or suspenders shall be worn.
4. No hats, caps or other head coverings shall be worn inside the building.
5. Hair shall be clean, neatly trimmed and well-groomed.
6. Beards and mustaches shall be allowed if they are neatly trimmed.
7. Footwear shall exclude flip flops and slippers.
8. Clothing that reveals undergarments shall not be worn.
9. Hemlines for skirts and dresses should be long enough not to be distracting.
10. Shorts, leggings, warm-ups, spandex or similar tight pants, exercise clothes, or any garment that may appear to be an undergarment are unacceptable.
11. Jeans may be worn on days designated by the principal or supervisor, designated spirit days, and teacher in-service days.
12. All administrative staff are expected to dress in a professional manner. Male administrative staff are encouraged to wear shirts and ties.
13. Male instructional staff shall be expected to wear slacks and collared shirts or other appropriate professional attire. Ties are encouraged and may be required by the principal. Acceptable alternatives for shirt and tie are shirt and pullover sweater or turtleneck sweater and sport coat.
14. Jewelry shall not be worn in a visible pierced area other than the ear.

EXCEPTIONS TO GUIDELINES

The following exceptions apply to these guidelines:

1. Physical education staff may choose to wear appropriate attire, approved by the administration, during the physical education instructional period.
2. Instructors in shop courses may wear aprons, smocks, or overalls during the instructional period.
3. Auxiliary employees in maintenance, custodial, transportation, food service, and positions requiring uniforms are exempted from the general guidelines, but shall comply with dress and grooming guidelines specified by their supervisors in the handbooks for those positions.
4. Exceptions to these general guidelines are to be made as necessary to allow staff to observe religious customs or beliefs and as necessary to accommodate medical needs.