Resolution 000174

..Title Authorizing the City Council Committee on Education to hold hearings to examine the potential of school uniforms for students in the Philadelphia School District. ..Body WHEREAS, A safe learning environment is an essential requirement for students in their efforts to obtain a quality education; and WHEREAS, The School District estimates that on average, two thousand serious crimes are committed in Philadelphia Public Schools each year; and WHEREAS, Many large public school systems, including Baltimore, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Seattle, and St. Louis have adopted school uniform policies in an effort to promote school safety; and WHEREAS, The year after Long Beach School District implemented a mandatory uniform policy in grades K through 8, assault and battery cases were reduced 34% and fighting incidents fell by 51%; and WHEREAS, School uniforms could help school officials identify intruders on school premises and reduce incidences of theft and/or violence revolving around clothing or sneakers; and WHEREAS, Issues need to be fully investigated before the implementation of any school uniform plan including but not limited to, voluntary versus mandatory uniform policies and assistance to low-income families to obtain uniforms; and WHEREAS, In numerous town meetings, parental support for school uniforms has been overwhelming; and WHEREAS, During a time period when the Philadelphia School District is involved in a budget crisis, school uniforms are a low cost initiative which would have a negligible, if any, impact on the School District budget; and WHEREAS, Mayor Street has asked the School Board to make school uniforms a high priority issue by requesting a proposal on the subject within the next thirty days; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Education is authorized to hold hearings to examine the potential of school uniforms for students in the Philadelphia School District.