Pa. school warns students to cover up leggings, yoga pants

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Students in several western Pennsylvania school districts are deep breathing a sigh of relief after learning a rumored ban on yoga pants proved untrue.

One school district sent out a letter to students entering grades eight through 12. It said yoga and other tight pants require a long shirt or tunic-like top that reaches to a girl's fingers when her arms are down.

School board member Paul Paoletta told administrators he's been barraged with questions about the supposed ban.

Paoletta said some girls "don't know how to wear them," and are revealing more than they should.

The policy also applies to leggings, leotards and other tight apparel.

Mercer School District is also enforcing the rule that leggings must be covered by a shirt.

"They are kids and they need to know what is and what is not acceptable," Mercer High School Principal Michal Paddington said.

More than 600 letters have gone out notifying parents about the new policy for all seventh- through 12th-graders.

Another new rule is that boys aren't allowed to wear pants with holes above the knee.

School officials said they're not taking the new policy lightly. A first offense includes a warning. After that, a student could get detention or be expelled.

Grove City and Hermitage school districts have implemented similar policies this year as well, Channel 11's Timyka Artist reported.

WPXI