EFFECTS OF STUDENT UNIFORMS ON ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, SUBSTANCE USE, AND ACADEMIC-ACHIEVEMENT

Mandatory uniform policies have been the focus of recent discourse on public school reform. Proponents of such reform measures emphasize the benefits of student uniforms on specific behavioral and academic outc omes. Tenth-grade data from The National Educational Longitudinal Stud y of 1988 was used to test empirically the claims made by uniform advo cates. The findings indicate that student uniforms have no direct effe ct on substance use, behavioral problems, or attendance. Contrary to c urrent discourse, the authors found a negative effect of uniforms on s tudent academic achievement. Uniform policies may indirectly affect sc hool environment and student outcomes by providing a visible and publi c symbol of commitment to school improvement and reform.