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The legislature put incentive money on the table for schools that made the switch to mandatory uniforms this year. But as Matt Galka tells us, not many districts are jumping at the idea.

Teacher Rod Durham didn’t grow up wearing a uniform for school

“I did not, I went to the high school I teach at,” he said.

The 11^th grade creative writing instructor says he doesn’t really see the need for them in his classroom.

“It gives everybody kind of a, to use the word ‘uniform’ kind of look where everyone’s the same, but I’ve just never had a problem with kids expressing themselves through their clothes,” said Durham.

But the legislature gave schools some extra help in their decision making process on uniforms this year.  They’ve incentivized making what they call Standard School Attire mandatory for elementary and middle schools. Districts are eligible to receive $10 dollars per student if they make the change.

Only four districts have applied to potentially make the switch to khakis and collared shirts so far.

There’s a $10 million dollar pot available to schools on a first come first serve basis.  K-12 Chancellor Hershel Lyons says the Department of Education isn’t pushing districts one way or the other.

“We just implement what the legislature puts in place,” he said.

The incentive program made the cut in the state’s budget.  It had previously passed the House but not the Senate.  Lawmakers heard from five districts that already had uniforms.

“When they implemented a school uniform policy in their schools the climate the culture of their schools improved. It’s an issue of school safety,” said Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach) in March.

Uniforms are also eligible for the state’s back to school sales tax holiday which starts at then end of the week.

School’s have until September 1^st to apply for the incentive money.  A school would have to have their school uniform policy in place by January 1^st.