ICYMI: 'Fingertip Rule' Out as Part of Forsyth School Dress Code

CUMMING, GA -- The classic "fingertip rule" to determine the acceptable length for clothing is coming off of the books in Forsyth County schools.

Starting next year, principals will have more leeway in deciding which skirts, shorts or dresses are appropriate, and which ones aren't.

The Forsyth County Board of Education made changes to the county public school system's dress code at their meeting on Thursday.

In a 5-0 vote, after much discussion, they decided to remove language from the code that defines the proper length of an outfit as “beyond fingertip length with arms extended downward by the sides of the body.”

Instead, the dress code will now read that skirts, shorts or dresses must be "acceptable length in order to avoid any disruption of a normal school day."

The board also removed part of the dress code that revoked a students' right to wear shorts to school if they violated the dress code twice.

Board members and others expressed concerns that current fashions make it difficult to find clothing that adheres to the old "fingertip rule."

“The rule is hard with styles today, so the time is right to change it and let principals exercise more judgement,” said Forsyth County schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said, according to the Forsyth County News.

County officials will meet with principals to help them come up with a uniform way to determine which outfits are acceptable under the new rules and which aren't.