The only claim he let stand was an allegation of sex discrimination based on the school district’s lack of clearly defined policies on why girls could be allowed to have long hair but boys could not.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants have taken part in or failed to prevent racial and gender discrimination against Darryl George through his ongoing punishment over his hairstyle.
George’s family has also filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency and a federal civil rights lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The CROWN Act, which took effect in September, prohibits race-based hair discrimination.
An attorney for the boy and his family said he is being punished ‘because his hairstyle does not fit the Eurocentric ideal of neat and clean.’
The incident recalls debates over hair discrimination in schools and the workplace and is already testing the state’s newly enacted CROWN Act, which took effect Sept. 1.
