Classroom 2006 NSBA School Uniform Survey
Summary | Key
| Survey | More Information
May
28, 2006
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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85% of respondents
have been school board members for more than a year; compared to 90% a year
ago.
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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.
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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.
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92% of members
stated that what a student wears to school matters.
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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.
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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. When district
wide, 60% stated the entire district is in uniforms and 40% have uniforms
in their elementary schools. This
is followed by 30% in middle schools, 10% in Pre-K and 5% in high school.
- 40% of the respondents stated their school or
district has been using a dress code program between 1-5 years followed by
39% who have been using dress codes for 5-10 years. 14% of those surveyed have been using
dress codes for more than 10 years.
- 61% stated that it takes between one to two
years to look at and implement a school uniform policy. 24% stated it takes six months.
- 84% of those schools in uniform have
mandatory policies.
- The greatest benefits for school uniforms
cited this year is the reduction of peer pressure, prevention of gang
violence, reducing disciplinary issues, enhancement of school image and
positive effect uniforms has in the classroom.
- 80% of those in uniform stated they consider
their program successful.
- 36% of respondents stated that uniforms have
helped improve attendance in their schools. The majority of respondents (23%) stated the improvement was
between 1-10%. 13% of those surveyed stated attendance improved between
10-50%. 61% stated no change.
- 88% of those asked said uniforms create a
positive effect in the classroom
- 86% of those asked felt uniforms have helped
improve their school’s self image.
- 64% of those surveyed saw a decline in
discipline referrals with a school uniform program, 28% of those surveyed
saw a 10-25% decline, 25% reported a decline by 1-10%, 11% reported a
25-50% decline and 36% of those respondents reported they have not seen a
change in number of discipline referrals in their school.
- 41% of those surveyed reported a decline in
gang activity or affiliation in schools using uniforms. 46% of those surveyed stated they do
not have gang problems on their campus.
- 32% of those surveyed reported an improvement
in their AYP scores by 1-10 points since implementing a dress code or
uniform policy. 6% reported an
improvement by 11-25 points, 2% reported an improvement between 25-50
points and 60% reported no change since their program began.
- 51% of those surveyed reported not seeing
improved parent participation since implementing a school uniform or dress
code policy.
- Of the school board members surveyed, 56%
stated their teachers support a school uniform program followed by 30% who
felt their teachers strongly support school uniforms. 1% of those surveyed felt their
teachers did not support such a program.
- To measure a program’s effectiveness, 94% of
those surveyed used principal and staff observations. Over 50% also used discipline logs,
attendance records, and test scores to measure program effectiveness.
- Price, comfort and availability of sizes are
vital to a successful program. The
happier that parents are with the ease of finding uniforms, the easier the
program will be to implement.
However, 65% of those surveyed felt that a school uniform
manufacturer or retailer is not important to their school’s success.
- Over 81% surveyed agreed that school uniforms
do save parents money. This data
is in line with last year’s survey (85%.)
- Donations, uniform closets and fundraisers
are the top activities schools use to help those who cannot afford school
uniforms. This is the same as last
year.
- 47% of those surveyed responded their school
is not in uniforms due to parent objections. 21% felt their school was too small, 37% felt their school
did not have problems a uniform or dress code policy would cure and 35%
felt students would object.
- 72% of the NSBA membership would reach out to
a sister school or district when investigating implementation of a new
uniform/dress code program. 48%
stated they would look on the Internet.
47% stated they would contact the NSBA.
- 32% of those surveyed felt too much pressure
is put on school uniform policies.
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71% of those
surveyed who are not in uniforms felt uniforms are a cost saver over general
apparel.
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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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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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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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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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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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34% of the respondents
stated that they have a uniform or dress code policy enacted in their
district. This is a rise of over 10%
from the 2005 Classroom School Uniform Survey.
84% of those surveyed in
school uniforms have mandatory programs with over 80% of those surveyed
considering their program to be successful.
88% of respondents felt that school uniforms help create a positive
effect in the classroom.
In addition, 63% of those
in uniforms stated that their policy was district wide. 40% of uniform programs are in the
elementary school, 30% in middle school, 11% in Pre-K and 5% in high
schools. This information reinforces
the notion that the earlier students start wearing uniforms the easier
compliance and program longevity will be.
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41% of the schools or
districts surveyed have been in school uniforms or dress codes for the period
of one to five years. 39% have been using a uniforms or dress codes between
five and ten years and 14% have been using programs for more than ten years.
This information reinforces the longevity and effectiveness of such programs.
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Typically schools are taking their time to discuss and implement a school uniform policy with their school and community. Since last year’s survey, we can conclude that schools are taking more time to educate the community about the program.
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Reduction of peer
pressure and disciplinary issues, prevention of gang affiliation and
enhancement of school image and the positive effect in the classroom are cited
as the main benefits of implementing a school uniform program.
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36% of respondents stated that uniforms have helped improve attendance in their schools. Of those who saw improvement, the majority stated the improvement was between 1-10%.. 13% of those surveyed stated attendance improved between 10-50%.
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87% of those surveyed
felt uniforms have improved their school’s self image.
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94% of schools evaluate
the effectiveness of the program based on observations of the principal and key
staff. 74% involve the parents and 60%
involve the students. The use of data such as discipline logs (58%), attendance
records (55%), AYP scores (42%), and test scores (48%) are also used.
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64% of NSBA members using
school uniforms in their schools have seen a decline in discipline referrals in
their schools. The majority of those
responding cited a decline of 10-25%.
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41% of those surveyed
stated a decline in gang activity or affiliation in their schools. 46% felt
this question was not applicable to their school district.
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40% of NSBA members
surveyed stated their AYP scores improved between 1 and 50 points since
implementing a dress code or school uniform policy. The majority of these cited
a rise between 1-10 points.
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51% of those surveyed
have not seen improved parent participation since implementing a school uniform
or dress code program. This information is surprising as parent involvement and
commitment is needed when discussing a school uniform program.
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87% of those surveyed
felt their teachers supported their school uniform program. Only 1% of those
surveyed felt their teachers do not support such a program in their school or
district.
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Price, comfort,
availability of sizes and availability in their community rank highest when
considering a school uniform partner.
The happier parents are with the ease of finding uniforms, the easier
the program will be to implement. Ironically, when asked if a uniform
manufacturer is important to a program’s success, 66% of those surveyed felt a
school uniform manufacturer or retailer was not important.
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Over 81% of those who
took the survey with uniforms in their school agreed that school uniforms do
save parents money. Those respondents
not in uniforms agreed that school uniforms were a cost saver over general
apparel (72%). However, when asked why
their school was not considering uniforms. 24% cited price of uniforms as a
factor.
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Donations, uniform
closets and fundraisers are the main ways schools help those who cannot afford
school uniforms.
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When asked why their
school would mot consider uniforms 47% of those surveyed responded that parents
would object. 37% stated that their school does not have problems uniforms
would resolve. However, if parents were interested in school uniforms 91%
stated their district would consider such a policy.
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