At Keshet, many school leaders reach out to us asking for sample language related to dress codes. Below is sample language we use that honors the dignity of all school community members.
Core Values
Students should be able to dress and style their hair for school in a manner that expresses their individuality without fear of unnecessary discipline or body shaming;
Students have the right to be treated equitably. Dress code enforcement will not create disparities, reinforce or increase marginalization of any group, nor will it be more strictly enforced against students because of racial identity, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size/type, or body maturity;
Students and staff are responsible for managing their personal distractions; and
Students should not face unnecessary barriers to school attendance.
Universal Dress Code
Students must wear:
Top (shirt, blouse, sweater, sweatshirt, tank, etc.);
Bottom (pants, shorts, skirt, dress, etc.); and
Footwear.
Safety
More specific requirements may be established when they are directly correlated with safety or functionality for a particular activity (i.e. sneakers for gym class, closed-toed shoes for science lab days, elevated dress for holidays or meeting with a state legislator, etc.)
Clothing must not infringe on the psychological safety of members of our community. For that reason, clothing may not depict any of the following
Violence
Alcohol or drug use
Profane language
Slurs or hate speech against any identity or group
Sexual activity or explicit sexual language
Naming a sexual orientation shall not be construed as “sexually explicit”
Enforcement
This dress code may not be interpreted or enforced in ways that intentionally or unintentionally create a disparate impact along lines of race or ethnicity, identity, gender, body type or size, ability or disability, socioeconomic access, or other identity.
All dress code interactions must be conducted in ways that are respectful of students, and may not be punitive or shaming in nature.
Kippah Policies
Keshet receives specific inquiries regarding kippah policies. Schools often reach out to us as they are working to balance the values of honoring each student’s affirmed gender, avoiding situations that could prompt situations in which assumptions are made about a student’s gender, supporting positive Jewish expression, and honoring the religious or halakhic commitments of each school. There are several approaches that we suggest, and we are available to think through which approach might be the best fit for a given school community.
One approach lets go of the idea of requiring a kippah for anyone, but focuses on emphasizing education and role modeling, and offering meaningful reasons behind the kippah as an important expression of Jewish identity.
“A kippah has historical significance both as a marker of Jewish identity and reverence for the Holy. All students are invited and encouraged to try on this practice, particularly during prayer times and study of Jewish texts.”
Another approach requires kippot of all students (of all genders), either throughout the day or at particular sacred times.
“All students are expected to wear kippot during tefillah (prayer) and at mealtimes…[or other particular times when they will be required]”
Another approach requires head covering (either at all times or at particular sacred times) and outlines a few head covering options that include a kippah as one of the ways to fulfill this requirement. This offers students many ways to fulfil the requirement that can be gender-affirming for a range of identities, and avoids placing students or teachers in a position where gender identities are assumed.
“All students are expected to cover their heads during tefillah (prayer) and at mealtimes [or at all times]. Acceptable forms of head covering include kippot, hats, headbands, [list whichever options are acceptable in your school community.]”
For some Orthodox communities, in which a kippah is explicitly understood as gender-specific, an alternative more trans-inclusive framing could be as follows:
“A kippah has historical significance both as a marker of Jewish identity and reverence for the Holy. In our community, a kippah is also understood to signify a masculine gender identity. All students who identify in this way are expected to wear a kippah throughout the school day.”
Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity.
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