Texas Black Student Faces School Transfer Over Hairstyle Violation

According to a letter from his school administration to his mother, a Black Texas high school student suspended for more than a month due to the length of his locs hairstyle had been transferred to another school.

According to the notice, Darryl George, 18, will be enrolled in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, sometimes known as an alternative school, until November 29.

“Multiple infractions of campus and classroom rules,” such as “disruption of the ISS classroom, failure to comply with directives from staff/administration, tardy policy violation, and violation of the dress and grooming policy,” are cited in the letter, which Barbers Hill High School Principal Lance Murphy signs.

Murphy states, “I, the School Principal, have ascertained that your child has participated in persistent or recurrent disciplinary transgressions that go against the District’s previously announced expectations of student behavior.”

The decision to transfer George to another program is the latest development in a legal battle over whether the teen’s locs hairstyle, which he frequently wears in ponytails or braids, violates the school district’s dress code, which limits the length of a male student’s hair.

School authorities had previously warned George and his family that if they continued to break the dress code, they would be moved to an alternative program.

The Georges claim the district’s policy violates the Texas CROWN Act, which prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles “commonly associated with race,” they refuse to cut the teen’s hair.

Last month, George and his mother, Darresha, filed a federal lawsuit against the Texas Attorney General, school officials, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott for allegedly breaching the law.

According to the memo, George can return to class on November 30.

The communication, however, makes it plain that the family cannot contest the suggestion for a new school. According to the Texas Education Code, “this decision is final if the placement period in the alternative education program does not extend beyond 60 days.”

The move was termed “retaliation” by George and his family’s lawyer, Allie Booker, for the family’s ongoing legal struggle with the school system.

According to court records, the Barbers Hill Independent School system requested that the case be transferred out of federal court. Still, the United States District Court judge for the Southern District of Texas denied the request on Wednesday.

“Today they filed a motion to pull (the case) out of federal court, and the judge struck the motion for noncompliance with court rules, so they retaliated by putting Darryl in DAEP,” Booker said of the alternative school.

On Wednesday, the media contacted the Barbers Hill High Independent School District and the school’s attorneys for comment.

Candice Matthews, a civil rights activist and family representative, told the media that although George feels “horrible” about the referral, he still plans to attend the event tomorrow. She said that George had no plans to chop his hair short.

According to court documents, the 18-year-old student has been under in-school suspension since August 31, owing to his locs.