Classroom 2006 NSBA School Uniform Survey

 

Summary | Key | Survey | More Information | Download PDF Version

 

May 28, 2006

 

Summary

 

Classroom School Uniforms sent email to 5,692 National School Board Association members asking them to take our school uniform survey.  Overall, 290 members participated.

 

Compared to the Classroom 2005 NSBA School Uniform Survey, more schools are reporting using uniforms than last year (34%) and for the first time that Classroom can recall, we are able to provide schools across the country with quantitative data based on these member experiences.

 

85% of respondents have been school board members for more than a year, showing an understanding of the community and the issues facing their districts.  These members represented school districts in the Midwest and Northeast and a majority consider their district’s location to be in suburban areas.  92% of the NSBA membership stated what a student wears to school matters.  Parent involvement, reading at grade level, inappropriate clothing and bullying are some of the problems NSBA members are currently experiencing in their districts. 

 

Over 34% of the respondents stated that they have a uniform or dress code policy and 36% stated they are in discussions.  Last year, over 23% of the respondents stated that they have a uniform or dress code policy.  63% of the respondents stated that the uniform policy is district wide compared to 37% who stated that the policy was campus choice.  Of those responding districts with dress code or uniform policies, there continue to be more with mandatory uniform policies than with voluntary ones, and more districts are implementing school uniform programs that are district wide.  80% of those surveyed felt their program was successful.

 

NSBA members also stated that uniforms have helped improve attendance in their schools (36%), create a positive effect in the classroom (88%) and have helped improve their school’s self image (86%).  64% with a school uniform program experienced a decline in discipline referrals and 41% experienced a decline in gang activity or affiliation.  32% reported an improvement in their AYP scores by 1-10 points since implementing a dress code or uniform policy.

 

NSBA members would first contact other schools, look on the Internet and to the NSBA for information on ways to investigate and implement a solution.  Currently, uniform manufacturers are the only place for schools to obtain information regarding school uniform programs.  Classroom’s goal is to provide real time information to schools as they discuss implementing a uniform program.  Successful programs are first measured by staff observations and parent reaction and then on analytical data.  Availability and pricing are the two most important reasons given for choosing a specific school uniform manufacturer as a partner.  Uniforms are a cost saver but schools are still having fundraisers, donations and uniform closets for those in need. 

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Key Findings

 

·         85% of respondents have been school board members for more than a year; compared to 90% a year ago.  

·         Members from the Midwest seem to be most interested in school uniforms, followed by the Southeast, Northeast and Southwest.  These results mirror our survey last year.

·         Of the respondents participating in the survey, 43% represent suburban area schools followed by rural area schools (31%) and urban area schools (23%). 3% of those surveyed had all of these types schools in their districts.

·         92% of members stated that what a student wears to school matters.

·         Parent involvement (73%), reading at grade level (68%), inappropriate clothing (65%) and bullying (62%) are some of the problems these NSBA members are currently experiencing in their districts.

·         Over 34% of the respondents stated that they have a uniform or dress code policy and 36% stated they are in discussions.  Last year, over 23% of the respondents stated that they have a uniform or dress code policy.

·         71% of those surveyed who are not in uniforms felt uniforms are a cost saver over general apparel.

·                     As with last year’s survey, over 90% stated they do not utilize Title One funds 85% of respondents have been school board members for more than a year.  These members have experience working in the community and understand many of the issues their school districts and community are facing.

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How long have you been a school board member?

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

 

 

Less than 1 year

14.6%

41

 

 

More than 1 year

8.9%

25

 

 

2-3 years

11.7%

33

 

 

3-5 years

15.7%

44

 

 

More than 5 years

49.1%

138

Total Respondents  

281

 

 

Members from the Midwest seem to be the most interested in school uniforms, followed by the Southeast, Northeast and Southwest.  The Northwest seems to be the area of the US least interested in school uniforms or dress codes.  School Board officials from the Mid –Atlantic states and Canada also expressed interest in this topic.

 

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Where is your school located?

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

 

 

Northeast

14.6%

42

 

 

South East

17.4%

50

 

 

West

3.8%

11

 

 

Mid West

43.8%

126

 

 

North West

3.5%

10

 

 

South West

12.8%

37

 

Other (please specify)

4.2%

12

Total Respondents  

288

Most of the members who participated in the survey were in suburban area school districts.  This is especially interesting, as it continues to show that schools outside large metropolitan cities are looking at school uniform programs.  In addition, 3% of those respondents represented districts that had schools in all three types of areas.

 

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Is your school situated in a/an

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

 

 

Rural area

31%

89

 

 

Suburban area

42.9%

123

 

 

Urban area

22.6%

65

 

Other (please specify)

3.5%

10

Total Respondents  

287

 

92% of members stated that what a student wears to school matters.  When asked why, participants responded that school uniforms eliminate peer pressure, the distractions of revealing clothes, and gang affiliations and they provide discipline, focus and better self-esteem.

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Does it really matter what students wear to school?

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

 

 

Yes

91.6%

261

 

 

No

8.4%

24

Total Respondents  

285

 

When asked what problems their school or district is currently experiencing, parent involvement, reading at grade level, inappropriate clothing, discipline and bullying were among the most cited issues.

 

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Does your School or District have problems in any of these areas? Check all that apply.

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

 

Attendance

50%

37

 

AYP Target Achievement

58.1%

43

 

Bullying

62.2%

46

 

Discipline

62.2%

46

 

Economic Class Division

48.6%

36

 

Fighting

44.6%

33

 

Gang Activity

40.5%

30

 

Grade Retention

28.4%

21

 

Inappropriate Clothing

64.9%

48

 

Math Comprehension