The black student was suspended to be sent to an alternative education program because of her hairstyle

**Darryl George**, an 18-year-old high school student at **Barber Hill High School** in Mont Belvieu, Texas, has been suspended since August 31. On Thursday, he received a letter from the school principal stating that he would be sent to EPIC, an alternative school program, from October 12 to November 29 due to "multiple violations" of campus and classroom regulations. In the letter, Principal Lance Murphy stated that George had repeatedly violated "student behavior standards that had been previously communicated." The letter also mentioned that George would be allowed to return to regular classes on November 30, but until then, he would not be allowed back on the high school campus unless he is there to discuss his behavior with school administrators.
George's mother, Darsha George, and the family's attorney, reject the notion that his hairstyle violates the dress code. Last month, this family filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency and a federal civil rights complaint against the Governor and the Attorney General of the state, claiming that they have failed to enforce a new law that makes hair discrimination illegal.
The family alleges that George's suspension and subsequent disciplinary action are in violation of the CROWN Act, a state law that became effective on September 1. This law, short for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair," is designed to prohibit racial discrimination and hair texture discrimination. Employers and schools are prohibited from penalizing individuals based on hair texture or protective hairstyles, including afros, braids, twists, or knotless styles.
The federal version of the CROWN Act was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last year but was not successful in the Senate. The school district has also filed a complaint in the state's district court, asking a judge to clarify whether the dress code restrictions on the length of students' hair for boys violate the CROWN Act or not. This complaint was filed in Chambers County, east of Houston.
Previously, the school had been involved in disputes with other African American male students over dress code issues related to hair. School authorities told D'Andra Arnold and Kaden Bradford that they had to cut their hair in 2020. Their families filed a complaint against the school district in May 2020, and a federal judge later ruled that the district's hair policy was discriminatory. Their case helped Texas lawmakers pass the state's CROWN Act. Both students left the school, and Bradford returned after the judge's ruling.

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