Austin district leaders could revamp the dress code policy in time for next school year to remove language that some say unfairly targets female students and specific cultures.

The potential changes come just months after a local group petitioned the district to reexamine the current policy, saying it doesn't align with district values of inclusivity and calling it "vague, arbitrary, sexist and racist."

The Austin district last updated its dress code policy in 2007, and district leaders said it's overdue for a change. District officials on Wednesday night will meet with a working group of 20 to 30 parents, students and employees to determine how to change the policy.

Tracy Spinner, district director of health services, points to school district policies in Portland, Ore., and Evanston, Ill., that can serve as models for best practices the district can follow when revamping its dress code. Policies in those two school districts eliminated bans on spaghetti straps, tank tops, pajamas and tight-fitted clothing, all of which the Austin district currently does not allow on campuses.

The Evanston policy states that clothing generally is OK as long as genitals, buttocks and breasts are covered with opaque fabric. The policy allows cleavage, undergarment waistbands and bra straps to be visible.

Instead of targeting specific articles of clothing, the Evanston dress code takes a more positive approach, written as to “not reinforce stereotypes” or marginalize any group based on gender, household income or body type and size.

Bans on specific articles of clothing — which include baggy pants, tight clothes, garments that “improperly expose body parts,” hats, caps and athletic shorts — are common among area school districts, including Austin, Hays, Leander, Pflugerville and Round Rock. The Manor school district requires uniforms.

"I like that AISD puts an emphasis on inclusion and equity (but) they were not doing that with our dress code," said parent Candace Pruett of Austin Families for Common Sense School Dress Code. Her petition to update the dress code drew 625 signatures, the majority of them from parents.

"Part of why our kids go to school is to learn self-expression in a safe environment. So allowing more inclusion and more freedom in ways to do that in our schools will only benefit our kids," Pruett added. "Individuals and their families can decide what is appropriate to wear. I also don't think we should be telling girls there is anything wrong with their bodies. ... What's the reason we have dress code? It should be to make sure everyone is comfortable in school, not telling kids what they should and shouldn't wear."

Lanier High School senior Litzy Rodriguez said she was kept out of class once during her freshman year for showing her midriff, which is a violation under the current dress code. Her mother had to bring her an alternative top that met the code's requirements.

Still, Rodriguez said she wasn't sure the dress code should be changed because students already violate the current policy on a regular basis and more flexibility could make them "go overboard."

"Either way, there are people who decide to follow it and people who don't," she said. "You should be free to wear whatever you want to express yourself. But you should know how to dress."

Lanier High School senior Ruben Ruiz said the way students dress express their own beliefs, but "you're always going to have people who go out of their way" to violate whatever dress code is in place.

Last week, several Austin school board members said they support a policy change.

Trustee Yasmin Wagner said she wants to “eliminate some of the language that is particularly sexist,” including phrases that say certain clothing, such as short skirts or shorts, is “distracting.”

“I’m wholeheartedly in favor of a change, and the sooner the better,” Wagner said.

Trustee Ann Teich, a retired district teacher, said she’s also interested in examining revisions to the policy, but students should understand that “a certain amount of professionalism should be demonstrated when they come to school.”

“We have a hot climate, but I, as a teacher, would have expected my students to dress appropriately for school and not worry about, possibly, various body parts being shown that should not be shown, and that’s for males and females,” Teich said at the board meeting.

The working group could submit to trustees a draft of the new dress code language after it meets Wednesday night, but Superintendent Paul Cruz said the committee might need to discuss changes over a few meetings and might want to vet ideas with other groups.

“These topics are real important to students and parents, and of course to staff,” Superintendent Paul Cruz said. “This is big. I don’t know how kids will receive it either way, but I do think it is something we have to address.”

Lanier interim Principal Steve Covin said the policy needs to be reviewed but said the "slope can be slippery."

"We have students from 80 different countries, with different cultural values," Covin said. "Part of being respectful of people from different cultures is respecting the culture of what their parents would want to see when they come to school. In an institution like a public school where students are required by law to attend, we need to respect their rights and their culture.

“It's difficult to find that balance. By respecting the values on one side of the issue, at the same time, you might not be respecting the wishes or the feelings of another culture. It's always something difficult to navigate or resolve in terms of things like this. It makes issues that seem straightforward become a little more complicated, in my mind."