Forty-five percent of teachers indicated interest. Unless at least two-thirds of local parents support the proposal for elementary schoolchildren, Dixon would not pursue it, said Huyett. School officials have linked uniforms to improved attendance and a reduction in crime. Long Beach Unified School District became the first in the nation to require elementary and middle school students districtwide to wear uniforms in 1994. In addition, crime in elementary and middle schools fell 76 percent between 1992 and 1996.
Anecdotal accounts outnumber hard data, experts say.
Parents and officials in some school districts testify 010 . Respect is a big thing in this district . . . This would be one more tool to achieve that. California's Education Code forbids school districts from mandating uniforms. If par010 .