The school’s dress code is designed to facilitate an environment where the school pursues its purpose of providing students an education based on academic excellence while ensuring safety, limiting distractions, and keeping the focus on learning. The cooperation of the student and the parent/guardian is necessary in maintaining the standards of the school’s dress code and dress code violations may result in appropriate disciplinary action. Coming to school each day with clothing in compliance with the dress code is a responsibility of both the student and the parent/guardian.  The following information is intended to clarify the School Advisory Council approved FMS Dress Code and should be used as a guide. 

Students MAY NOT wear head coverings including, but not limited to: caps, hats, hoods, Du-rags or scarves in the building (but may be permitted outside).  Bandanas are prohibited for all students.

1. Students MAY NOT wear clothing that is sexually suggestive or that features crude or vulgar messages; depicts drugs, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, violence, racial/ethnic clubs or gang affiliation in words, pictures or colors.

2. All pants and shorts are to be worn at the waist level with a belt (if necessary), with NO undergarments or other shorts showing.  (This is now state law).

3. Dresses, skirts, shorts, etc., are to be of appropriate length (with arms extended at your side, clothing must be longer than fingertips), with a finished hem, worn at the waist with NO undergarments showing.

4. Shirts must cover the chest, back and shoulders (no tank tops or spaghetti straps) and MAY NOT expose the midriff or bare sides including when arms are extended above the head. 

5. Students MAY NOT wear see-through clothing or spandex-type clothing without something underneath or over.  This includes but is not limited to: tights, leggings, Jeggings as pants. In the event a secondary garment is worn over, the garment must be finger-tip length with the arms extended downward at one’s sides.

6. Pajamas/sleepwear/bedroom clothes/clothing designed after sleepwear are prohibited.

7. Clothing containing rips, cuts, tears, and holes are allowed as long as they are embroidered into the garment or there is fabric filling in any hole. Holes that reveal skin are only allowed below fingertip. Holes that reveal skin or undergarments above fingertip length are not allowed.

8. Health-Related Facial Masks: Designs must not contain any derogatory images or profane language. Masks containing any bandana designs are prohibited

9. Hoodies are not permitted on campus: This includes both zip-up and pull-over options. Jackets/ coats/ or any other garment that has an attached or detachable hoodie are prohibited.

Examples of inappropriate clothing include bicycle racing attire, see through garments, halters, backless dresses, tube tops or tank tops, clothing not properly fastened, and bare midriff outfits.

• Clothing, jewelry, buttons or any other items with profanity or with symbols, pictures, patches, and/or signs, which are indecent, offensive, suggestive, drug and alcohol-related or associated with gangs are inappropriate.  Clothing, identifying markings, or paraphernalia, which are racially or religiously offensive, including those associated with gangs, clubs, sects, or groups avowing or practicing discrimination against any person on the basis of age, ethnicity, handicapping, condition, religious, sex, or sexual orientation are inappropriate.

• Hair and grooming aids, including nail polish and make up, should not be used at school. Sunglasses must be removed in buildings.

Attendance

Florida law requires each parent of a child from six to sixteen years of age to be responsible for the

child's school attendance. Students who have attained the age of 16 years and who have not

graduated are subject to compulsory school attendance until the formal declaration of intent to

terminate school enrollment is filed with the district school board by the student or parent/legal

guardian of a student who is less than 18 years of age.

Parent Responsibility

Florida Statutes, 1003.24 defines the responsibility of parents for the attendance of their child at

school and requires them to provide an explanation for any absence from school.

If a student has unauthorized absences sufficient enough to jeopardize academic progress and it is

determined that the student's parent or legal guardian is at fault for the absence, in accordance to F.S.

1003.24, the procedures under Florida Statutes 1003.26 and 1003.27 shall be followed by the

appropriate school personnel.

Excused and Unexcused Absences

It is the parent/guardian responsibility to notify the school regarding the reason for a student’s

absence in a timely fashion.

Absence is nonattendance of a student at school or in an approved educational activity/field trip or

program on days school is in session. A student who is not physically present at school or not

participating in an approved school activity as defined under the compulsory school law shall be

counted absent and shall not be recorded as in attendance on that day.

The law allows absences for illness or medical care, death in the family, religious holidays,

prearranged absences for educational purposes approved by an administrator, financial and certain

other special circumstances or insurmountable conditions. A student with an excused absence is not

subject to any disciplinary or academic penalties.

An unexcused absence takes place any time a child is out of school for reasons not recognized in the

law. In these cases, the child may be subject to academic penalties. Unexcused absenteeism sufficient

enough to jeopardize academic progress at the elementary and middle school levels is defined as a

student being absent without an acceptable reason five (5) times in a calendar month or ten (10) times

in a 90-calendar day period.

Tardiness

Tardiness is any arrival at school after the tardy bell has sounded without an approved excuse.

Likewise, students who leave school before the end of the school day have their learning interrupted.

Unless the reason for leaving or late arrival is covered under Florida Statute, elementary and middle

school students who are chronically tardy or leave early without an acceptable excuse more than five

(5) times in a calendar month or ten (10) times in a 90, calendar day period will be subjected to action

as dictated by 1003.27, F.S.

If the parent is the cause of the chronic tardiness or leaving early without an acceptable excuse, then

1003.27, F.S. shall be used to gain compliance. Tardiness and leaving early without an acceptable

excuse is seen as a form of nonattendance, which is in violation of compulsory attendance statutes.

Truancy

 A truant is one who is not in attendance, with or without approval of the parent or other person having charge of the student, and whose absence has not been excused. A habitual truant is a student who has fifteen (15) unexcused absences within ninety (90) calendar days with or without the knowledge or consent of the student’s parent or legal guardian. A student’s primary teacher shall report to the principal or his/her designee if the student is exhibiting a pattern of non-attendance and is a potential habitual truant because of at least five unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, within a calendar month or 10 unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, within a 90-calendar-day period. If a child subject to compulsory school attendance will not comply with attempts to enforce school attendance, the parent, the guardian, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall refer the case to the district staff and Child in Need of Services/Family in Need of Services (CINS/FINS) provider committee. If the child has had more than 15 unexcused absences on a 90, calendar day period the Superintendent or his/her designee may file a truancy petition pursuant to the procedures in F.S. 984.151.

Middle School Attendance

Students are not allowed to be absent from school except for the following documented reasons:

a. Illness and/or medical care

b. Death in the family

c. Legal reasons

 d. Financial conditions

e. Religious Holidays

 f. Pre-arranged absences for educational purposes approved by an administrator.  Unexcused absences are absences which are not used for the legitimate purposes as described above. For each class in which the student has any unexcused absence(s), a grade of "F" shall be assigned for that nine (9) week grading period.

Tardiness/Partial-Day Attendance

1. For the purposes of this policy, the Board annually sets the length of the school day, with the student year being set at 180 days.  All students are expected to be in school on time each day school is in session and remain until dismissal unless a valid reason exists for leaving early.
2. Tardiness and leaving early without an acceptable excuse, for the purpose of this policy, are seen as a violation of State law.  Tardiness is defined as any arrival at school without an approved excuse after the tardy signal has sounded.  Unless the reason for leaving early or late arrival is covered under State law or the list of approved absences above, elementary and middle school students who are chronically tardy or leave early without an acceptable excuse more than five (5) times in a calendar month or ten (10) times in a ninety (90) calendar-day period will be subjected to action as dictated by State law.
3. If it is determined that the parent is responsible for the cause of the chronic tardiness or leaving early without an acceptable excuse, then F.S. 1003.27(2) shall be used to gain compliance.

Leaving School Grounds Before the End of the School Day

1. All students leaving school prior to the end of the school day must sign out through the Attendance Office.
2. No student shall be sent from the campus during school hours to perform errands or act as a messenger except with the knowledge and approval of the Principal, and then only for necessary and urgent school business.
3. No student shall be permitted to leave school, for the remainder of the day prior to dismissal, in the custody of a person other than the student's parents/guardian unless that person has the verified authorization (written or verbal) of one of the parents/guardians.
4. Subject to the above restrictions, the Superintendent shall establish administrative procedures that set forth the criteria and provisions by which any eleventh- or twelfth-grade student may earn, or have revoked, off-campus privileges during the student's lunch period.  Such criteria and provisions shall contain, at a minimum, the requirements of parental consent and Principal's approval for the granting of off-campus privileges.

Makeup Work

Students who have been absent and are excused are given the privilege of making up work.  The length of time within which work may be made up shall be determined by the extent and nature of the absence.  It is the student's responsibility to obtain and complete all makeup work.

Prolonged Absence

Parents/Guardians shall notify the school administration as soon as they become aware of the possibility of excessive absenteeism due to illness (more than fifteen (15) school days) in order to provide homebound services.  A physician's statement is necessary for homebound services.

Unexcused Elementary and Middle School Absences:  Penalties

1. There are no "free" unexcused absences.  For any unexcused absence, tardy or leaving early or "skipped" class without an excuse, the student shall receive an "F" in that class for that day.  Detention shall be served or other appropriate consequence applied for middle school students.
2. The Principal shall contact the parent/guardian after an unexcused absence to determine the cause for the absence and to explore remedial action, if needed.  However, by the occurrence of a fourth unexcused absence, tardy or leaving early or "skipped" class, the Principal shall meet with the student and parent/guardian to develop a mutually agreeable educational program designed to eliminate future unexcused absences or missed classes.  The educational program shall include, at a minimum, the following:
3. A scheduled conference with the student, the parent or parent's designee, the Principal, and other appropriate school personnel.

1. A listing of those reasons or circumstances asserted by the student as contributing to or causing the unexcused absences, tardy or leaving early or "skipped" classes, and a statement outlining procedures to overcome these reasons or circumstances including curriculum or other changes in the educational placement.
2. A written statement of what steps will be taken should other unexcused absences, tardy or leaving early or "skipped" class, occur or the student not live up to the agreed upon educational program.  These steps may include a failing grade for the grading period in the course or courses or subjects involved should an additional unexcused absence, tardy or leaving early or "skipped" class occur.      

4. Academic failure may be imposed only when the student fails to comply with the previously agreed to educational program or a refusal to participate in a meeting to design such an educational program. 
5. If agreement is not reached following a conference, a fifth unexcused absence, tardy or leaving early or "skipped" classes shall result in the student failing for the grading period the subject, course or courses involved.
6. Parents/Guardians may appeal the assessment of academic failure under Policy 5710 - Student/Parent/Guardian Grievance and Complaint Procedure if there are circumstances that were not considered by school officials when unexcused absences occurred.