Feeling safe and welcome in school is essential to students’ well-being and academic achievement. But 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 CROWN Act was signed into law in 2022, banning race-based hair discrimination and marking an important step towards creating safe, inclusive schools for Black and brown students. H.4400/S.2663 would build on this progress by making rules related to student grooming and dress unbiased and objective, as well as preventing the suspension or expulsion of students for the perceived violation of these rules. This legislation is an important component of our work to stop the school-to-prison pipeline and keep girls of color and LGBTQ+ students in school where they can learn, grow, and thrive.

Following a favorable report from the Education Committee, this bill is now sitting in House and Senate Ways and Means. To get it passed before the end of the legislative session, 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 legislators to help advance H.4400/S.2663 further.