Prom Crackdown: Connecticut High School Enforcing Minimum Modesty Rules

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A cover-up is underway in Connecticut after one high school announced it wouldn't allow overly revealing dresses at its upcoming prom.

The move sent students at Shelton High School into a panic, since many had already bought their gowns.

As CBS2's Lou Young reported, it's a crackdown on plunging cuts and high slits, prompted by cell phone and social media photos of gowns that seemed to violate established school policy for appropriate wear.

"This is not someone's wedding or someone's debutante ball. This is an event for 500 students," said Shelton School Superintendent Freeman Burr.

A combined junior-senior prom is set for Saturday, but many students and parents didn't give dress propriety much of a thought until the district sent out an email last weekend -- what many considered to be too last-minute.

After an initial outcry, the district formed a committee to review some of the more dramatic gowns in this year's prom collection.

"They reviewed it again this morning and then they decided yes," said mother Tonni Mantalvo. "(So they're softening?) Yes, they are."

"They said it's too much skin in the back to be shown," said junior Alexis Gerics. "(But now, you've gone back and they said what?) It's perfectly fine for me to be wearing it. (So you're approved?) Yea. (Are you annoyed with them?) Yes."

The faculty advisory committee reviewed the 19 dresses called into question Tuesday and decided that only seven were actually inappropriate. Of those seven, several of those girls decided to make adjustments with substitute garments or alterations, Young reported.

They believe that by prom day the controversy will be over.

"I'm hoping that all of our students who bought tickets to the prom will attend the prom without incident," said Burr.

Students going to the prom in Shelton are being advised to check with the school committee if they have any doubts about whether their dress will be approved.