Can a school enforce a hair policy like this?

Education Law Forum
1

My 7-year-old son attends a charter school, and for the past two years, I’ve had to sign a form explaining why he should be allowed to keep his long curly hair due to cultural reasons. This year, they’ve asked for more information before approving the accommodation again, even though it was approved the last two years.

What upset me most is that my son told me today he was sent to the office, where a staff member brushed his hair and put it in a ponytail. He did NOT want his hair touched, and you’re not even supposed to brush curly hair when it’s dry. Their policy says boys have to keep their hair at a certain length unless an accommodation is requested.

Is it even legal for them to enforce a policy like this, especially given that my son didn’t want his hair touched? I’m not sure what to do next, but I feel like this crossed a line.

2

That sounds so invasive. Did the school say why they’re making it harder to approve the accommodation this year?

3

Zenith said:
That sounds so invasive. Did the school say why they’re making it harder to approve the accommodation this year?

They just said they needed more information, but they didn’t explain why.

4

Zenith said:
That sounds so invasive. Did the school say why they’re making it harder to approve the accommodation this year?

You might want to ask for their reasoning in writing. That could help you figure out what’s really going on.

5

Brushing his hair without permission is not okay. Did you let the school know how upsetting this was?

6

Zara said:
Brushing his hair without permission is not okay. Did you let the school know how upsetting this was?

Not yet, but I plan to bring it up soon. It feels like a huge overstep.

7

Zara said:
Brushing his hair without permission is not okay. Did you let the school know how upsetting this was?

You should definitely address it. Schools shouldn’t be touching kids without consent, especially for something like this.

8

This could be a violation of his rights. Have you looked into whether your state has laws protecting cultural hair styles?

9

Dylan said:
This could be a violation of his rights. Have you looked into whether your state has laws protecting cultural hair styles?

I haven’t yet, but I’ll start researching. I know some states have protections, but I’m not sure about ours.

10

Dylan said:
This could be a violation of his rights. Have you looked into whether your state has laws protecting cultural hair styles?

It’s worth checking. If your state has those laws, the school might be violating them.

11

Are they legally allowed to deny an accommodation based on cultural reasons? That seems questionable.

12

Wyatt said:
Are they legally allowed to deny an accommodation based on cultural reasons? That seems questionable.

That’s what I’m wondering. It feels like they’re being unnecessarily difficult about it this year.

13

Wyatt said:
Are they legally allowed to deny an accommodation based on cultural reasons? That seems questionable.

You might want to consult with a lawyer. They can help you understand your rights and your son’s rights in this situation.

14

I’d recommend putting everything in writing from now on. It’s good to have a paper trail if this continues.

15

Morgan said:
I’d recommend putting everything in writing from now on. It’s good to have a paper trail if this continues.

That’s a good idea. I’ll make sure to document everything moving forward.

16

Morgan said:
I’d recommend putting everything in writing from now on. It’s good to have a paper trail if this continues.

Also, ask them to respond to your concerns in writing. That way, you’ll have proof of their responses.