Parent urges Chester County board to ease pants policy; petition tops 300 signatures

Kayla Patterson, a Chester County High School graduate and parent of two students, told the board she and other families are struggling to find pants that meet the district’s current dress code and said the rule has become “too difficult and too expensive.” Patterson said the district’s requirement for twill or cotton pants has left parents searching specialty stores and paying more for clothing; she added that many female students feel singled out because stretchy waistbands make pants noncompliant.

Patterson said the group created a change.org petition asking the board to adopt the K–5 pants standard for older grades, allowing clothing “that is simple, appropriate, inexpensive, and readily available.” She told the board the petition has “over 300 parents, students, and community members” signed, and described instances in which students were dress‑coded for pants with stretch even though they had functional pockets and were not revealing.

Board members and administrators asked Patterson for concrete examples and photos of the pants she described so staff can draft precise policy language. Patterson said she can provide photos and further details to help the board consider targeted wording changes that would allow stretch blends while preserving standards against leggings or revealing clothing.

The board did not take immediate action on Patterson’s request; staff asked her to submit examples and the board indicated it would consider specific language updates in a future policy review.