A 1728 — Prohibits public school from denying admittance to student due to tardiness or violation of dress code or school uniform policy.*

A1728 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblywomen Collazos-Gill and Brennan         SYNOPSIS      Prohibits schoolpublic districtschool from denying admittance to student due to tardiness or violation of dress code or school uniform policy.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe byAssembly LegislativeEducation Counsel.Committee on May 7, 2026, with amendments.

            1.  11.  Section 21 of P.L.1996, c.93 (C.18A:11-8)(C.18A:11-7) is amended to read as follows:

     2.   1.  a. The ALegislature boardfinds ofand educationdeclares maythat adoptmany aeducators believe that school dress codecan policysignificantly toinfluence requirepupil behavior and that studentsschools wearthat ahave adopted dress codes, including dress codes which require school uniformuniforms ifand thewhich policyprohibit isclothing requestedindicating bymembership thein principal,certain staff,gangs, andexperience parentsgreater ofschool anpride individualand school,improved behavior in and ifout of the boardclassroom.  determinesThe Legislature further finds that theto policyassist willin enhancecontrolling the schoolenvironment learningin environment. public Anyschools, policyto adoptedfacilitate whichand requiresmaintain an effective learning environment, and to keep the wearingfocus of athe uniformclassroom shallon includelearning, a[school provisiondistricts] public schools should be specifically authorized to assistimplement economicallyuniform disadvantagedclothing students.requirements for their students.1 (cf:

P.L.1996, c.93, s.1)        1[1.] 2.1     Section of P.L.1996, c.93 (C.18A:11-8) is amended to read as follows:

     2.    a.  A board of education 1of a school district or a board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project1 may adopt a dress code policy to require that students wear a school uniform if the policy is requested by the principal, staff, and parents of an individual school, and if the board determines that the policy will enhance the school learning environment.  Any policy adopted which requires the wearing of a uniform shall include a provision to assist economically disadvantaged students.

     b.    The board of education 1or board of trustees1 may provide a method whereby parents may choose not to comply with an adopted school uniform policy.  If the board provides a method, a student shall not be penalized academically or otherwise discriminated against [nor denied admittance to school] if the student's parents choose not to comply with the school uniform policy.

     c.     A dress code policy adopted pursuant to this section shall not preclude students who participate in a nationally recognized youth organization which is approved by the board of education 1or board of trustees1 from wearing organization uniforms to school on days that the organization has scheduled a meeting.

P.L.1996, c.93, s.2)        2.   13.  (NewSection section) 3 a.of P.L.1996, c.93 (C.18A:11-9) is amended to read as follows:

     3.  A board of education of a school district or board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project may adopt a dress code policy to prohibit students from wearing, while on school property, any type of clothing, apparel or accessory which indicates that the student has membership in, or affiliation with, any gang associated with criminal activities.  The local law enforcement agency shall advise the board, upon its request, of gangs which are associated with criminal activities.1 (cf:

P.L.1996, c.93, s.3)        1[2.] 4.1     (New section)  a.

     (1) tardinesstardiness; ;

     b.    Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the ability to enforce any board of education 1or board of trustees1 adopted student code of conduct or policy that is outside the purview of this section.

         3.   1[3.] 5.1     This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT        This bill provides that a student cannot be denied admittance to school due to:

1) tardiness;

or 2) a violation of a school uniform policy or dress code policy, except in the case of a student wearing clothing, apparel, or accessories indicating membership in, or affiliation with, any gang associated with criminal activities.

     The amended bill clarifies that a board of education is not restricted from enforcing any adopted student code of conduct or policy that does not conflict with the provisions of the bill.