A federal judge has dismissed the majority of claims in a lawsuit brought by a Black high school student who alleged racial and gender discrimination by school officials for refusing to change his hairstyle. The lawsuit, filed against the Barbers Hill school district near Houston, claimed that the district's policy on hair length for male students was discriminatory.
The judge's ruling was seen as a victory for the school district, which argued that its policy aimed to instill discipline, grooming standards, and respect for authority among students. However, the judge raised concerns about whether the rule caused more harm than good.
The student, 18, faced disciplinary actions during the 2023-24 school year for wearing his hair in tied and twisted locs that the district deemed too long. He was either placed in in-school suspension or attended an off-site disciplinary program.
The lawsuit also invoked the CROWN Act, a state law prohibiting race-based hair discrimination, which came into effect after the dispute over the student's hair. The court found that the student had not demonstrated widespread race-based enforcement of the policy.
While most claims in the lawsuit were dismissed, one allegation of sex discrimination based on unclear policies regarding hair length for boys and girls was allowed to proceed. The judge emphasized the need for the district to provide reasons for sex-based distinctions in its dress code.
This case echoes a 1970 ruling in El Paso, Texas, where a judge overturned a school district's attempt to prevent a male student from enrolling due to his hair length. The judge noted that such policies could disrupt the educational process more than the hair they sought to regulate.
Barbers Hill's hair policy has faced previous legal challenges, with a federal lawsuit in 2020 resulting in a temporary injunction for one student. The current lawsuit is ongoing, with some claims still pending resolution.
