Magnolia ISD agreed to temporarily pause enforcement of its gender-based hair policy, which states boys’ hair length must not be longer than the bottom of a dress shirt collar, according to a court document filed Nov. 4. The district will also pause enforcement of two other gender-based policies, which state boys cannot wear their hair in a ponytail or bun, and boys cannot wear earrings, the document said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sued the district Oct. 21, alleging the district’s gender-based policies violate Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. On Oct. 26, a judge granted a temporary restraining order against the district’s enforcement of the policies.
In a statement provided to Community Impact Newspaper, Brian Klosterboer, ACLU of Texas staff attorney, said students and parents in the district are relieved MISD has paused enforcement of its policies.
“This issue should have been swiftly corrected without the need for litigation, and the school board should end it by permanently changing this outdated and unconstitutional policy,” Klosterboer said in the statement. “Dress codes that discriminate against students have no place in our society.”
