Parents Protest Catholic High School's Pre-Approval Requirement for Prom Dresses

A Catholic high school in Pennsylvania is reportedly receiving backlash from some parents for requiring students to have their prom dresses pre-approved by school faculty before wearing it to the end-of-the-year school event.

Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown reportedly implemented the new policy in early March that requires girls to submit photos of their prom dresses to school officials before they are able to wear them to prom.

According to the York Daily Recorder, the new policy states that prom dresses cannot be too low-cut, too short, show too much skin or be "inappropriately revealing." Additionally, both men and women must wear gender-specific outfits to the annual dance.

Parents and students alike have protested the new policy, arguing that the school's decision to start the policy in March has not given students enough time to react, adding that many female students have already purchased their prom dresses and are unable to return them.

Some parents have gone so far as to start a Change.org petition that denounces the "antiquated and unreasonable restrictions imposed on the formal wear for the May 2015 prom."

"Restrictions have been posted six weeks before the prom. Many parents have purchased non-refundable prom gowns. We have not been given a set of guidelines in a reasonable amount of time," the petition adds.

Opinions remain split on the issue, with some arguing that the school is forced to impose restrictions in response to some of the revealing fashion styles that are currently popular among teen girls. 

"The styles that most of them are wearing these days, are unbelievable," Angela Chronister of New Oxford, Adams County told the local Fox43 news station.