Massachusetts

School Board Rules to Suspend Hair Policy

The decision came after the board gathered in a closed emergency meeting to discuss the future of the school's hairstyle regulations after recent backlash from the public

The Board of Trustees for Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden,  Massachusetts voted unanimously to suspend the hair section of their uniform policy for the remainder of the school year Sunday night.

The decision came after the board gathered in a closed emergency meeting to discuss the future of the school's hairstyle regulations after recent backlash from the public.

Mystic Valley Regional's controversial policy first came under fire when twin sisters Mya and Deanna Cook received multiple detentions for wearing their hair in braided extensions.

While the school initially said that these braids violated their dress code, the Cook sisters and their parents maintained that the code unfairly targeted people of color.

The office of the Attorney General eventually became involved, saying that the "hair and make up policy violates state and federal law," singling out black students.

Colleen Cook - whose daughters spent their Sunday evening outside the trustee meeting holding signs - said that, because the suspension is only until the end of the school year, they "still have our work cut out for us."

School leaders said they're working with the Attorney General's office to create a permanent new hair policy.

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