6/8/22 - No Uniforms For GRPS

Grand Rapids Public Schools decides to drop the uniform requirement for students for the upcoming school year.

Grand Rapids Public Schools issued a statement to parents with children attending GRPS schools.

They were writing to inform them about an important decision regarding school uniforms and a new dress code for the 2022-2023 school year.

One of the priority outcomes for the new GRPS Strategic Plan is to “increase scholar empowerment, belonging and agency.” The Superintendent’s Scholars Advisory Council strongly advocated for the district to eliminate the school uniform requirement. Based on this feedback, they agreed to conduct a survey of scholars, families, and staff to gauge whether there should be a change. The survey results showed families and staff were largely split about the uniform requirement, while the scholars were overwhelmingly opposed to it.

In keeping with the priority outcomes identified in their strategic plan, they made the decision to eliminate the PK-12 school uniform requirement and implement a new dress code policy for the 2022-2023 school year. 

The new GRPS Scholar Dress Code Policy will be presented to and voted on by the Board of Education in the coming weeks. When the Scholar Dress Code Policy is finalized, they will send it out to scholars, families, and staff. 

Those with questions can contact their local school or the Communications Department at 616-819-2149 or communications@grps.org.

The first day of the new school year is scheduled to begin Tuesday, August 23, 2022.