With the first day of school approaching, many Salem families are making department store visits to replace outgrown jeans and worn out sneakers. Most will do so with their school's dress code in mind.

Salem City schools guidelines changed for the 2008 2009 school year.

"It's very difficult for us to make judgments about lengths for clothing and how revealing a piece of clothing is, especially with today's fashions," said John Hall, principal of Salem High School.

He says the new dress code, which is modeled after that of Franklin County and other schools, makes the verdict on wayward fashions less subjective.

"It's much more detailed about what is appropriate and what is not," said Hall.

Students along with the Salem City Schools superintendent developed the new dress code over the past year and half. A pamphlet on the Salem City Schools Web site illustrates the new requirements, which include specific measurements for short lengths and necklines.

"I don't have a problem with it. I think it's a good thing. I don't think it's too conservative," said Diane DeReu-Foley of Salem. "It gives the kids a little bit of leeway but it's not going to show skin that makes people feel uncomfortable."

As far as being able to buy dress code friendly clothes for her daughters Tessa, 13 and Maia, 10, she doesn't anticipate a problem.

"This past year has been so much easier because there has been a bigger selection of short lengths. Even the shirts are long and thin now instead of short and revealing a lot."

She added, "I think it makes life easier for the kids to be a little more covered up."

According to Juliette Myers, principal of Glenvar Middle School, the warmer months at the beginning of the school year are the most common period for dress code infractions, with the majority of incidents involving shorts that are too short.

"We don't have too many problems beyond that," she said. "We try to prepare the students in advance and talk to them ... about what the policy says and let them know that it's a Roanoke County policy and that every school adheres to that policy."

Myers says the dress code is important because, "We don't want dress to be a distraction in the learning department."

Roanoke County Schools introduced a blanket dress code policy back in 2004. It was developed by the Roanoke County school board in cooperation with a student advisory council made up of representatives from all the area high schools and middle schools.

"Before, each school had individual dress codes. They were similar, but there was no standard until 2004," said Chuck Lionberger, community relations specialist for the Roanoke County Public School system. "This [the school's current policy] was generated by students, for students."