But youngsters needn't dread that military academy khakis or church school plaids will become mandatory, said Robert Fox, chairman of the board's Committee on Student Services.
"This does not set a school uniform, but allows uniform school attire," he said. It may be a stricter dress code than a school now has, or simply a school T-shirt, he said. Established attire is likely to be "significantly cheaper than the dress preferred by youngsters."
Before imposing a dress code or uniform school attire, a school must demonstrate that the decision "represents the views of a majority of the members of the school community." The policy also provides that a dress requirement impose no undue financial burden upon a student and parents.
Board member Winston Sakurai attempted to amend the policy to provide that an effort to set a uniform dress code would be scuttled if the majority of one element of the school community, such as the students, opposed it.
He also failed to get sufficient support for a proposal to limit the policy to schools with SCBM - school-community based management.
"A large number of students don't want to wear a uniform and would not support this," said Jesse Palmer, a nonvoting student member of the board.
Denise Matsumoto countered that "a lot of kids at the poverty level would benefit from a school dress code. It would remove the pressure of wearing certain brand names."
Keith Sakata recalled his high school days 30 years ago when youngsters felt liberated when the dress code requiring shoes and tucked in shirttails was lifted. "I can see how students might not want the board to dictate dress."