Texas School District Drops Dress Code Changes and Parents Are NOT Happy

Well kids, school is almost back in session in El Paso. *Screams in Spanish* As a mom to a teenage boy, I am ready for my refrigerator to not be getting raided every other hour! But now I have to prepare my bank account for a brand new wardrobe for my son!

Gone are the days of buying my son school uniforms but for many El Paso parents, buying school uniforms is still on the list of back-to-school shopping and some parents make sure to do that shopping ahead of time which is why some  EPISD parents were upset to see a sudden change of the district's uniform policy!

According to district officials, this new code was crafted with help from campus leaders, families, and educators to keep things safe, consistent, and less confusing for students and parents. 

Local El Paso Blogging Page ToDoElPaso, which is run by EPISD parent Jenny Solo, is one of those parents who was caught off guard with this change. A post was shared on the page saying:

“With rising costs, many of us already bought clothes or uniforms early to save money. For EPISD to change things this late in the game is not just inconvenient — it’s unfair.”

 

Jenny wanted to make sure to clear any confusion for other parents so she continued to reach out to district officials to get some clarification. (You’re the real MVP, Jenny!)

What to know about EPISD’s changing dress code:

• Uniforms? Only schools that already had them are sticking with them. So no, your kid’s school isn’t suddenly going full private academy.
• Color palette: Tops in white, navy, gray—or school-specific colors—are a go. Bottoms? Jeans or twill pants in navy, khaki, or black are approved for PK–8 and middle schools.
• Spirit shirt fans rejoice—elementary students can now rock them every day.

Leah Hanany, EPISD Board of Trustees President, said the goal is to support learning, encourage belonging, and make life easier for parents and teachers.

If you're wondering whether your child still needs to wear a uniform, EPISD has a full list of uniform schools here episd.org/dresscode