We are excited to share that Amendment #1389 has been filed as an outside section of the FY27 budget and aims to reduce the valuable class time students that students miss out on due to suspensions for dress and grooming rule violations.

The impact out of school time has on students, from the younger grades throughout high school, can have a widespread negative impact on student achievement and outcomes. Disparities in school achievement also exists and are driven by disparities in school discipline and the lost time resulting from those exclusions. In Massachusetts, Black girls are 3 times more likely to be disciplined and 5 times more likely to receive an out-of-school suspension than their white counterparts. Disparities become even greater when there are unclear policies that can be enforced in a discriminatory way. For instance, a 2022 United States Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) report found an estimated 90% of dress codes nationwide restrict clothing items associated with girls. Meanwhile, the report found only 69% of dress codes across the country prohibit items associated with boys.

Amendment #1389 works to reduce the amount of time students are spending outside of the classroom for violations of dress and grooming rules. It would do this by ensuring that students are not suspended for solely violating dress and grooming rules and ensuring that those rules are clearly defined and fairly enforced, to avoid the often discriminatory interpretation and enforcement of dress and grooming rules end. Finally, Amendment #1389 would not prevent schools from taking action in circumstances regarding a student's way of grooming and dress and falls under bullying or harassment.

We need Amendment #1389 to help curb the school-to-prison pipeline and keep students in school where they can learn, grow, thrive, and contribute to building a stronger community. To make sure it gets included in FY27 Budget, 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 that FY27 includes Amendment #1389.