The central argument that parents present against school uniforms is that they violate the First Amendment of the Constitution. Congress does not have the right to hinder freedom of speech or religion. While most allegations that uniforms block freedom of speech, some courts have ruled in favor of parents who sued on the grounds of freedom of religion. On account of these parents and students, schools were required to amend uniform dress code rules to accommodate religious beliefs.
Although there is no professional study that supports the idea of student performance being associated with mandatory uniforms, advocates for the dress policy claim that uniforms eliminate socioeconomic status in schools. Such elimination gives students the school spirit and confidence necessary to perform better in and outside of the classroom.
The National School Safety and Security Services reports that uniforms can make campuses more safe by reducing a number of conflicts. According to the organization, uniforms eliminate fights that may stem from who has better clothes, while reducing the risk of students being robbed off campus before and after school. Uniforms also prevent gang members from identifying themselves in dress while at school; this has the potential to reduce gang wars on campus. In addition, school uniforms help administration identify visitors on campus.
The financial costs of school uniforms have been long debated by parents. While some parents contend that uniforms save money because it leads to purchasing fewer clothes, other parents argue that uniforms present the financial burden of having to purchase school clothes in addition to casual wear. While school districts have not attempted to satisfy the debate either way, some administrations have attempted to assist financially challenged families with school uniform purchases. The Long Beach Unified School District, for instance, has developed an assistance program in which graduating students give or sell used uniforms at a discounted price, and the Kansas City School District supplies uniforms to students free of charge; completely satisfying the complaint of uniforms being purchased in addition to casual wear.