Hillsborough changes dress code after talking with students
A roundup of Florida education news from around the state
Tampa Bay Times | By: Divya Kumar | July 20, 2026
The big story: Among changes to the student code of conduct in Hillsborough County for students returning to school in fall: Changes to the dress code, which district officials made after meeting with middle and high school students around the district.
Added rules to the dress code this year: Pajamas are no longer allowed; shorts, dress and skirt hemlines much reach midthigh when standing; face and head coverings are not permitted unless for religious reasons; jewelry with spikes is not allowed and leggings and spandex are not permitted unless covered by clothing that extends to midthigh.
But the biggest things district officials stressed after listening to input from students is that they want to ensure the policy is uniformly applied.
Last December, a Robinson High School senior addressed the board during public comment and asked them to consider updating their policies. She told them though the policy states a dress code exists to help students feel safe and healthy, its enforcement has the opposite effect.
Board member Jessica Vaughn said last week consequences should be uniform.
“We’ve heard repeatedly from students there’s not fidelity around enforcing it,” board member Jessica Vaugh said. “While a dress could be laid out, there might be someone who wears spaghetti straps and it’s not an issues and no one ever says anything about it, and there might be another student who’s maybe more developed in certain areas and wears the same piece of clothing, and then there’s disciplinary action taken against that student.”
The district added a statement to the policy saying they are “committed to enforcing the dress code in a fair, respectful and consistent manner” and that it “will not be enforced differently based on a student’s body type, body size, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or any other protected characteristics.”
