OKC schools to review dress code after kindergartner told to turn shirt inside out

Kindergartner Cooper Barton, 5, turned his shirt inside out behind a tree on the playground after a teacher at Wilson Elementary noticed he was breaking the district dress code policy.

“If a child is not in compliance with the dress code, they are given two options: to turn their shirt inside out or to wear a Wilson Wise Wolves T-shirt that is available in the school office,” Principal Kirk Wilson said in a statement.

Wearing clothing that depicts athletic teams — except for Oklahoma colleges and universities — is against the district dress code, according to the district's 2012-13 student-parent handbook.

“As when any policy is questioned, OKCPS administration will review the policy to determine if changes need to be made,” Superintendent Karl Springer said in a statement.

Policy updated in 2005

The district dress code was last updated in 2005 in cooperation with the Oklahoma City Police Department Gang Task Force, Springer said.

The update was done as a response to national concerns about gangs using clothing from sports teams as membership identification.