Some Erie Catholic School System parents are raising concerns about a new uniform policy they say could place an added financial burden on families while undermining the equity school uniforms are meant to promote.
Parents received an email last month outlining the policy change, which designates Tommy Hilfiger as the system’s official uniform provider. While students will be permitted to wear their current uniforms during the 2026-27 school year, school officials said the year will serve as a transition period. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, students will be expected to comply with the new uniform requirements.
School officials said the move is designed to create greater consistency in appearance across the system’s schools.
“We started noticing that there was a lot of disparities between the uniforms, the texture, the color, the quality, and the whole purpose of a uniform is to kind of give equity across the board with students,” said Megan Lane, vice president of marketing communications for the Erie Catholic School System.
But some parents say the new policy will make uniforms significantly more expensive than they have been in the past.
Renee Winnick, a parent in the system, said families previously had the flexibility to purchase approved uniform items from a variety of retailers at lower prices.
“Polo shirts have to be polo shirts from Tommy Hilfiger, which are $19 when you could get them anywhere for four to five dollars a piece,” Winnick said.
The new uniform requirements include polo shirts, shorts, blouses, plaid skirts and slacks. Lane said some of the more formal clothing options offered by the provider are optional.
Winnick said she also worries the transition period could create unintended divisions among students if some families can afford to purchase the new uniforms sooner than others.
“The whole purpose of a uniform is for unity and uniformity,” Winnick said. “So that can set you know a problem or even worrying you know kids these days worrying about what their parents can or cannot afford.”
Lane said bullying is not tolerated within the school system and administrators would address any issues that arise.
To help offset costs, the Erie Catholic School System is working to establish used-uniform closets where families can obtain donated uniforms that students have outgrown.
“And it’s just simply the used uniforms from students that they’ve outgrown,” Lane said. “And so we’re starting to establish right now we’re in the process of building out a closet to make that an option for our parents.”
The system also plans to hold additional parent meetings throughout the school year to gather feedback about the policy. Officials said families can also take advantage of discounts available through the uniform provider.
Winnick said she believes the higher cost of the uniforms raises questions about the values of Catholic education.
“I thought it was excessive,” Winnick said. “The Catholic school system prides itself on coming there for the teachings of Christ. And I think this kind of goes against all of that.”
School officials said they will continue collecting feedback from parents during the transition year and will consider that input as they evaluate the uniform policy before it is fully implemented in the 2027-28 school year.