Unfortunately, in July 2020, the school board voted unanimously against changing the discriminatory policy. However, in August, the Court granted LDF’s request to enjoin enforcement of the policy and allow K.B. to return to classes and school activities while the lawsuit unfolds in court.
In March 2021, LDF filed an amended complaint arguing that, not only did BHISD selectively enforce its discriminatory hair policy to target Black students with uncut locs, but, when the discrimination made the local news, BHISD ramped up enforcement of the hair policy against other students in an apparent attempt to conceal the selective enforcement. In the nine days following the news coverage, BHISD issued more hair policy citations than it had in each of the past three years.
LDF sent a letter to BHISD demanding the district take appropriate steps to improve school climate after it failed – for months – to remove “Black Lives Don’t Matter” graffiti from the high school and removed posters of Vice President Kamala Harris and former First Lady Michelle Obama that students had posted in celebration of Black History Month on the grounds that the posters were divisive.
After BHISD’s discrimination against De’Andre and K.B. came to light, members of the Texas legislature introduced The CROWN Act to ensure that no one is deprived of educational or economic opportunities because of their hair. De’Andre and LDF Director of Policy Lisa Cylar Barrett both testified at the hearing in support of The CROWN Act in April 2021.