Feeling safe and welcome in school is essential to students’ well-being and academic achievement. However, rules relating to student grooming and dress disproportionately target girls of color and LGBTQ+ students for punishment, reinforcing racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic norms.

Students should never lose critical class time for showing up as their authentic selves, especially when these rules are applied so subjectively. As one Massachusetts 8th grader reported, “There will be white girls wearing really short skirts and crop tops...They get to go through the day without being apprehended or anything...Black girls with more of a body, they are being dress coded...It makes me feel uncomfortable because there are other people wearing the same thing but there’s only certain people getting in trouble for it.”

The Massachusetts House recently released its proposed economic development bond bill, and Representative Fluker Oakley has filed Amendment #184. This amendment would make rules related to student grooming and dress unbiased and objective, as well as prevent the suspension or expulsion of students for the perceived violation of these rules.

We need Amendment #184 to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and keep girls of color and LGBTQ+ students in school where they can learn, grow, thrive, and contribute to building stronger communities. To make sure it gets included in the economic development bond bill, our legislators need to hear from you!

We’ve already started a message for you – click “Start Writing” above to add your own details and urge your State Representative to help ensure the economic development bond bill includes Amendment #184!