The Sherman ISD Student Handbook is a general reference guide that outlines rights as specified in state or federal law as well as certain district policies, procedures, and rules. In addition, our secondary schools publish student information guides as an additional resource for students and families about school expectations and other helpful information.
The Student Code of Conduct is a guide for discipline management. In accordance with state law, it is made available to all families through the Sherman ISD website. All parents/guardians complete an acknowledgment accepting responsibility for accessing the Student Code of Conduct each year as part of the student registration process. Should internet access not be available, a printed copy will be provided upon request. English and Spanish versions will be made available.
The District’s Dress and Grooming Code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards, and teach respect for authority and the work environment. Students shall be dressed and groomed in a manner that is clean and neat, not a distraction, and in a way that does not create a health or safety hazard. The District prohibits any clothing or grooming that, in the principal’s judgment, may reasonably be expected to cause distraction, interfere with normal school operations, or create a safety hazard. The student and parent may determine the student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the following Dress and Grooming Code:
Students must wear their ID at all times when at school or traveling to and from school using District transportation.
Student clothing must completely cover the student’s torso and legs in the undergarment area. Shirts and blouses must be buttoned or snapped to conceal all skin to 3 inches below the collar bone.
Pre-K–5th Grade Only: Shirts and blouses must have at least one-inch coverage between the shoulder and neck. Spaghetti straps are not allowed.
6th Grade–12th Grade Only: Students may not wear tank tops, strapless dresses, or spaghetti straps. Tank tops are not allowed, regardless of the width of the straps. Short sleeves must be at least square with the shoulders. Shoulder-less tops are not allowed.
Students can wear shorts, skirts, and/or dresses, provided they do not expose undergarments or private body parts.
All pants, shorts, and skirts must be worn at waist level. Sagging and loose pants, shorts, or skirts are prohibited.
Jeans or pants with holes, shorts, skorts, and leggings that do not expose undergarments or private body parts are acceptable. Garments must cover all undergarments at all times, whether in standing, reaching, stooping, bending over, or sitting positions.
Tops that are torn, ragged, frayed, or contain holes are not permitted without appropriate coverings underneath their garments, such as undershirts.
Tights, leggings, jeggings, bike shorts, and other skin-tight/form-fitting pants must be worn with shirts, skirts, “skorts,” or shorts that extend and cover the buttocks.
Any clothing articles designed as underwear or sleepwear may not be worn as outerwear.
All undergarments, in their entirety, must be concealed at all times, including straps and boxers.
The chest, midriff, and buttocks should be covered at all times with non-see-through material. Undergarments must not be seen while standing, reaching, stooping, bending over, sitting, or making other movements.
Hats, caps, sweatbands, bandannas, sunglasses, other headwear, and hoods on hooded jackets or pullovers may not be worn inside the school building.
Students undergoing or recently receiving chemotherapy or any medication causing hair loss may wear head coverings approved by the campus principal.
Hair, by color or design, may not distract from the learning environment. Nonnatural hair color is permitted as an accent. If designs are shaved into the hair, they must be school-appropriate and may not condone or represent drugs, gangs, alcohol, profanity, violence, obscenity, or anything deemed inappropriate by the school administration.
Hair spiked or arranged in a disruptive or distracting style will not be allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, Mohawk haircuts.
Eyes must be visible at all times and not covered by hair or other objects, unless approved by the campus principal based on a medical physician’s authorization.
Footwear must be worn at all times. Shower shoes and beach shoes, house shoes, slippers, or shoes with wheels or lights are prohibited. Students must have shoes that are safe and appropriate for a normal school day or participation in school-related activities. Medical shoes may be worn with a medical physician’s authorization.
Students may not wear tongue rings, lip rings, eyebrow rings, ear gauges, spacers, facial jewelry such as hoops or rings, or facial decorations. They may, however, wear one small nose stud.
Jewelry that distracts from the instructional environment is unacceptable.
Any class, student organization, or school-sponsored group t-shirt designed and intended to be worn at school must receive final approval from the campus principal.
Distracting or excessive make-up is prohibited.
Clothing, grooming, and overall appearance may not reflect gang affiliation by any means, whether intentional or unintentional. The Sherman ISD Police Department will maintain a list of gang-affiliated attire and grooming.
Students may not wear any clothing article that depicts or advertises alcohol, tobacco products, drugs, violence, or behavior perceived as lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene.
Metal chains (e.g., wallet chains, belt chains, etc.), costume clothing or costume accessories, metal hair picks, and blankets are prohibited.
Students are expected to be in compliance with the dress code at any school-related event or activity; school officials have the authority to ask students to leave if they are inappropriately dressed.
Note: The principal, in connection with the sponsor, coach, or other person in charge of an extracurricular activity, may regulate the dress and grooming of students who participate in the activity and may impose higher standards.
The Off and Off Cell Phone and Telecommunications Device Policy is established to reduce distractions for students during the school day.
Sherman ISD recognizes cell phones/electronic devices as part of the fabric of 21st century society and believes in the importance of integrating technology into instruction. Cell phone/electronic devices have become a way of life, a technological convenience that has impacted all of our lives in many ways. However, in the school environment, personal cell phones, headphones/earbuds and other electronic devices can be a distraction and interruption during the learning process. The ringing of the cell phone during class or text-messaging takes away from the valuable time needed for instruction and, most importantly, student learning.
We do recognize that cell phones/electronic devices can be a safety/security tool; however, they can be a detriment in the event of a building emergency and our protocol to manage such emergencies in a safe and effective manner. Parents and guardians are asked to call the school’s phone number to relay any messages that may be urgent in reference to their child.
The district permits students to possess personal cell phones and telecommunications devices for safety purposes; however, all telecommunications devices must remain turned off during the instructional day, off their person, and stowed away in a backpack or purse, including during all testing, unless they are being used for approved purposes.
A student must have approval to possess other personal telecommunications devices on campus such as laptops, tablets, or other portable computers. Without such permission, teachers will collect the items and turn them in to the principal’s office. The principal will determine whether to return items to students at the end of the day or to contact parents to pick up the items.
The use of cell phones or any device capable of capturing images is strictly prohibited in locker rooms or restroom areas while at school or at a school-related or school-sponsored event.
If a student uses a telecommunications device without authorization during the school day, the following consequences may be implemented:
First Offense = Warning and teacher keeps the device and return to the student at the end of class.
Second Offense = Cell phone/electronic device will be taken up by the teacher and turned into the AP office. Students will be charged $15 and parents will be required to pick up the phone A101. Parent contact by teacher. A discipline referral entered by teacher resulting in an AM/PM detention.
Third Offense = Cell phone/electronic device taken up by teacher and turned into the AP office. Students will be charged $15 and parents will be required to pick up the phone A101. Parent contact by teacher. A discipline referral entered by teacher resulting in Saturday School.
Fourth Offense = Cell phone/electronic device taken up by teacher and turned into the AP office. Students will be charged $15 and parents will be required to pick up the phone A101. Parent contact by teacher. A discipline referral entered by teacher resulting in 1 day of RESET.
At any time, administrators reserve the right to deny cell phone/electronic devices usage or possession during the school day.
Confiscated telecommunications devices that are not retrieved by the student or the student’s parent will be disposed of after the notice required by law.
In limited circumstances and in accordance with law, a student’s personal telecommunications device may be searched by authorized personnel.
Any disciplinary action will be in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. The district is not responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen telecommunications devices.
Instructional Use of Personal Telecommunications and Other Electronic Devices
Students must obtain prior approval to use personal telecommunications or other personal electronic devices for instructional purposes while on campus. All personal devices must be turned off during the instructional day, and stowed away off their person, when not in use for approved purposes.
Violations of the user agreement may result in withdrawal of privileges and other disciplinary action.
Student Discipline
The school principal at each campus acts as the campus behavior coordinator responsible for maintaining student discipline, implementing disciplinary actions for student misconduct and acting as a point of contact for behavioral issues.
