New Illinois law bans 'hairstyle discrimination' in schools

[Jilly_in_VA]

Illinois schools will be prohibited from issuing rules regarding hairstyles historically associated with race and ethnicity, such as braids and twists, under a new law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The measure approved by the Legislature this spring and signed by Pritzker on Friday aims to end discrimination based on students’ hairstyles. It is known as the Jett Hawkins Law after Gus “Jett” Hawkins, a Black student who at age 4 was told to take out his braids because the hairstyle violated the dress code at his Chicago school.

His mother, Ida Nelson, began an awareness campaign after the incident, saying stigmatizing children’s hair can negatively affect their educational development. She called Friday’s bill signing “monumental.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/new-illinois-law-bans-hairstyle-discrimination-schools-rcna1683
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It's a damn shame that this even requires legislation.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Good, I Suppose

I honestly didn't know this was a problem here in Illinois.
If it's a bigger issue than I knew, the law should have been passed & signed.
I sub in 14 districts, and have seen plenty of hairstyles on the students. Both fashion & ethnically connected.
So, no such issues there.
There are, of course, thousands more districts in the state that may be very different.
Just that my direct observation makes it a surprise that this was an issue anywhere in 2021.

[obamanut2012]

2. Charter schools are notorious for this

Some public schools, too, but charters for some reason are really bad about this, at least in my area.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Aaah!

Got it.
Have no experience with those, even to the point of not even knowing any people who had kids in one.
Thanks for the info.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Good