Students at Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board schools will soon be expected to show a little less skin as part of an updated dress code policy.
The board recently approved changes that clarify clothing expectations, particularly for high school students, where concerns have been raised over attire at school events where uniforms aren’t required. The revised policy now explicitly requires that clothing cover from the top of the shoulders to mid-thigh—a shift from the previous guideline, which only required the torso to be covered down to mid-thigh.
While uniforms are mandatory in all Dufferin-Peel high schools, students often dress more casually at after-hours events, prompting complaints from parents and concerns from trustees.
“Torso coverage isn’t enough if students are still showing bare shoulders with spaghetti straps or tube tops,” said Trustee Brea Corbet (Mississauga Wards 9 and 10), who pushed for the added specificity. “Parents have voiced concerns that this type of clothing isn’t suitable for school settings, and we need clearer policies to support our administrators.”
Trustees emphasized that having a clearly defined dress code allows school leaders to respond more confidently when faced with pushback from students or their parents.
Ward 7 Trustee Bruno Iannicca echoed the sentiment, noting that some outfits he’s seen at school events would never be allowed in his own household. “But some parents think it’s totally fine to send their kids out like that,” he said. “Principals need a policy they can stand behind when addressing these situations.”
Board officials acknowledged the challenges in enforcing dress codes, particularly when some parents take a more permissive stance. Still, they noted that Dufferin-Peel already upholds stricter dress expectations than many other Ontario school boards.
The updated policy also maintains existing rules prohibiting clothing that includes political messages, promotes illegal activity, uses profanity, or contains content that violates the Ontario Human Rights Code.
As the board looks to balance self-expression with decorum, students will need to keep a bit more covered—especially the shoulders.