Items in dress code policies could target children in poverty, according to the director of the Utah Teacher Fellows program through the Hope Street Group.

Tabitha Pacheco, who lives in Springville and heads the group, which encourages teacher advocacy, looked at the dress codes for different schools and began noting trends.

One of those is items in school and district dress codes stating that clothing must be clean and in good repair. Pacheco said it’s a rule that makes sense, but could negatively impact students who are homeless or come from low-income families.

“They may only have one pair of pants and access to wash their clothes once a week,” Pacheco said. “Although that seems like a very simple request, that might not be something that’s so easy for every student.”

Pacheco said children in elementary school often don’t have control over their own clothes or when laundry is done. Pacheco suggests schools can refer children in dirty or ragged clothing to a counselor instead of punishing them.

Nebo School District’s policy team did research and found that a student has never been disciplined for a dress code violation due to being in poverty, said Lana Hiskey, a spokeswoman for the district.

Hiskey said the students are given help from the district, which includes a district pantry that can provide clothing.

“They are not disciplined,” Hiskey said.

She said administrators are taught to make good judgment calls regarding potential violations.

Pacheco said she’d also like to see direct references to female anatomy removed from codes and instead of listing gender-specific clothing for females, to use generic language applicable to both genders, such that bottoms should reach the knees or that backs should be covered instead of listing which types of tops are banned.

“I don’t think cleavage should be monitored in a dress code,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco said monitoring cleavage can place students and employees in uncomfortable situations.

Nebo School District’s dress code mentions that clothing should cover shoulders, midriffs, backs, underwear and cleavage.

The district updated its dress code this summer to allow secondary students to wear hats and removed a ban on crossdressing. Hiskey said the district’s policy team looked at changing “cleavage” to “chest,” but did not find a strong need for that change.

Hiskey said the purpose of the word is not to embarrass students and that administrators are trained to use the phrase “you’re not meeting the dress code” and to bring up issues privately.

Hiskey said the dress code is in place to create a good environment for students that’s free of distractions.

Pacheco had brought her concerns to the district. They were looked at by the district’s policy team.