SSA by more than 2:1

Fresh from the MNPS public relations office is the press release showing overwhelming support across the district from parents surveyed last week about Standard School Attire. Blue is adopt standard attire. Yellow is keep current policy. Burgandy is no preference. From the press release:

MNPS survey shows strong support for Standard Attire

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 22, 2007) – Results of an MNPS survey conducted last week show parents and staff support a switch to Standard School Attire district-wide by a nearly two to one margin.

More than 18,000 people responded to the survey, which was a nonscientific poll using the district’s call-home telephone system. Of those responding, 61.4% asked the district to adopt Standard School Attire, while 31.4% favored the current dress policy and 7.2% had no preference. An analysis of the results by high school cluster also revealed a majority support for Standard School Attire in every cluster. [Emphasis added.]

It's apparent to me that those that were so vehemently against SSA were out of touch with other parents in the district. While they and, I'm sure, their closest associates in their school, were solidly against it--regular folks who have to deal with the daily hassle of ensuring their children are appropriately dressed preferred less choice for the children and more freedom for parents.

It's now up to the BOE to listen to their constituents and vote this in regardless of threats from a few high schoolers who will attempt to throw temper tantrums to get their way, regardless of the threat to leave the system by some parents (who'll likely find stricter policies in private schools) and regardless of the lack of 'empirical' evidence that SSA doesn't guarantee higher scores or lower discipline rates. Superintendent Garcia is right: "School is important" and requiring students to dress for success is just one part of an entire process to ensure their success.

UPDATE: MNPS Spokesman Woody McMillan tells me that the magnet schools were included in the cluster their building is in. Also there is no breakdown by school available. What information is available can be found at http://mnps.org/AssetFactory.aspx?did=15259.