Bra straps exposed, shorts deemed "inappropriately" short and dresses that don't strike the knee have prompted suspensions in high schools across the country. Less than two months ago, more than 150 students were suspended in a single day from Duncanville High School in northern Texas during a dress code enforcement sweep. The school determined that the children were guilty of dress code violations, suspending them from school just two weeks before the end of the school year and days before their finals.

Similar disciplinary actions have been dealt out in recent months at other schools, involving young girls wearing leggings as pants, exposed shoulders and chests and "sagging" pants — all judged to be distracting and disruptive to the learning experience. The enforcement of these dress codes, implemented under the guise of discipline and lessons on formal dress, are most likely to be implemented at low-income public schools, and female students and students of color are the most likely to be punished for infractions.

"It is about that freedom of expression," said G.A. Buie, the principal of Eudora High School in Eudora, Kansas. "They want to be individuals; they want to put themselves out there to be noticed. But at the same time, sometimes that can be a disruption to the school. That's where the fine line comes in there."

Educators and administrators have long credited uniforms and dress codes for improved behavior, positive academic performance and a reduction in fashion competition among students. Many students have countered those claims, alleging that such policies are a violation of their first amendment rights and infringe on students' self-expression. No matter whose argument is most valid, it's an unattested fact that children attending public schools in low-income, urban areas are far more likely to be assigned uniforms than their counterparts in suburbs (47 percent compared to 6 percent).

Also, safety and security measures tend to be more prevalent in high-poverty schools than in low-poverty schools. The uniforms paired with metal detectors and routine surveillance result in a prison-like environment that's less productive.

Black and Latino children are monitored far more closely than their white and Asian peers, which also means they receive more discipline, evidenced by the fact that blacks are suspended at six times the rate of their white counterparts, and Latino students are suspended at three times the rate of white students. Suspension pulls students away from the classroom, and students perform worse when they return because they don't understand what's going on in the classroom, thus reinforcing the education gap. Just one suspension doubles the likelihood that a student will drop out; and 68 percent of the prison population doesn't hold diplomas.

Dress codes often target specific students, mainly girls and black and Latino children. When schools ask that students not wear baggy pants, when they outlaw hoodies, when they prohibit braids or afros, students from low-income and high-minority areas see those rule as an affront to their individual style and the style within their community and culture. Uniforms are often used to mask poverty and weed out gang affiliation, according NPR's Latino USA, but it's also used to manipulate the image of the student body.

Teachers and principals at schools with high rates of poverty want the students to look appropriate and professional, but the children feel that they are targeted, particularly when they see their peers from nearby schools saunter by wearing street attire. Students have an understanding that uniforms are meant to prepare them for a job setting, but they also know that the intention is to restrict them and teach conformity.

Numerous schools have opted to counter the leggings as attire by punishing young girls and making them wear dress-length shirts or skirts atop of them. Some schools countered unique hairstyles with mandated haircuts. Many schools police the bodies of young girls, not the clothing of young girls. A Utah high school digitally altered yearbook photos, adjusting the sleeves and necklines of female students, believing that the girls showing too much skin. It seems that girls are meant to learn that uniforms will not only conceal their curves but will ensure that their bodies won't undermine the entire system.

Some administrators admit that enforcing policies can be vexing, and there's a morphing definition of what's considered appropriate. Sometimes there are two issues: one of compliance and one of "good taste," stating that something may look good on one person but not necessarily another. Nonetheless, the regulations are more restrictive for women than for men, making girls feel ashamed, rather than teaching students about body consciousness and educating male students against objectification.

Duncanville High School's dress code and the intent behind the dress code are clearly communicated on its website. While their policies are not explicitly gendered or intolerant, the school makes a habit of suspending children for seemingly benign violations directly before examinations. Wearing school uniforms isn't correlated with educational success, and punishing children for not adhering to strict policies is counterproductive to educational achievement.

Sure, sexually provocative clothing and clothing with graphic or violent details have no place in school. And, yes, uniforms may minimize socioeconomic tensions related to attire, but dress code policies have downsides, too. Purchasing uniforms for a single child or multiple children can be a hindrance for low-income families, particularly when students attend schools where dress codes are rigid, and force parents to spend money that they can't afford to. Parents who are unable to purchase duplicates may be faced with a challenge if their child's uniform is dirty and they were unable to wash it; they're forced to keep their child home from school.

Children and parents should have an input on dress code policies, making uniforms less restrictive and policies easier to abide by. The replacement of school I.D.s could be paid with in-school labor or classroom assistance, instead of cash. And, non-suspension methods need to be applied so that students' education isn't affected by a poor choice made when getting dressed in the morning.

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