What are the constitutional objections to mandatory dress codes and uniform policies?
Generally, the most common constitutional claims alleged are (1) violations of students’ First Amendment rights to freedom of expression; (2) violations of students’ First Amendment rights to freely practice their religion; or (3) violations of parents’ 14th Amendment liberty interests in rearing their children. Many students claim that requiring them to wear particular clothing deprives them of the ability to freely express themselves through their choice of dress. In one case, students from a Kentucky high school claimed that their school’s dress code policy prohibiting clothing with any logos other than the official school logo was a violation of their free expression rights. The federal court sided with the school district, finding that it had “struck a reasonable balance” between preventing potential disruptions and protecting students’ First Amendment rights. In another case, a high school student brought a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a school board policy prohib
