As Leland charter school criticized for hair policy, rules for other area charters vary

After a Leland charter school allegedly asked a Native American student to cut his hair to comply with its grooming policies, it faced accusations of discrimination.

However, such policies aren’t unique to Classical Charter Schools of America of Leland. Charter schools across the Wilmington area and North Carolina have similar policies, with some even more explicit and restrictive.

Could these recent allegations affect other local charter schools?

Claims of sex, religious and cultural discrimination

Logan Lomboy is a 6-year-old, first-grade Native American student at Classical Charter Schools of Leland. His mother, Ashley Lomboy, said for the 18 months since Logan started school, he’s worn his long hair in a bun, complying with the school's boys grooming policy, which dictates boys' hair should be off the collar, above the ears and above the eyebrows.

In February, school staff informed Logan’s family that he would need to cut his hair, claiming styling his hair in a bun violated another part of the policy, one which specifies that "distracting, extreme, radical, or faddish haircuts, hair styles, and colors are not allowed." Ashley Lomboy said school administration said a “manbun” is considered a faddish hairstyle.

Earlier:After asking Native American boy to cut his hair, Leland school accused of discrimination

Lomboy said she and her family are part of the Waccamaw Siouan tribe, one of eight state-recognized Native American tribes. Hair is an important part of their Native American heritage, holding religious and cultural significance.

"They're asking him to sacrifice culture for a better education," Lomboy said. "That shouldn't be a choice any parent has to make in this state."

The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to the school's board of trustees, claiming the policy and its enforcement discriminates against Logan and other Native American students. The ACLU claims enforcing hair rules for boys that prohibit them from wearing hairstyles that are allowed for girls also constitutes sex discrimination.

Last year, the same school was the subject of a federal appeals court case in which judges ruled that the school's dress code, which required female students to wear skirts, violated the constitutional rights of its female pupils.

Lomboy filed a grievance but it was denied. The case will be considered by the board of trustees in April, according to Baker A. Mitchell, President and CEO of The Roger Bacon Academy, which manages the four southeastern North Carolina CCS-A charter schools.

‘Public schools of choice’

Charter schools are public schools authorized by the State Board of Education and primarily funded by state and local tax dollars, but they are governed by an independent, non-profit board of directors. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction calls charter schools “public schools of choice.”

According to NCDPI, charter schools have open enrollment and cannot discriminate, associate with a religion or charge tuition. While charter schools operate with freedom from governing regulations faced by district schools, they are held to state assessment standards.

According to NCDPI, there are two charter schools in Brunswick County and seven in New Hanover County. There are currently no charter schools in Pender County.

Grooming policies similar to those at Classical Charter Schools of American are common among local charter schools, but some – such as Wilmington Preparatory Academy, Wilmington School of the Arts and Cape Fear Center for Inquiry – do not restrict student hair styles or length.

At American Leadership Academy-Coastal in New Hanover County, the grooming policy reads almost identically to Classical Charter Schools of America’s: “Boys’ hair cannot be longer than the top of the collar and must be off the ears. Hair length in front should not fall below the eyebrows or otherwise interfere with or obstruct student vision.”

The American Leadership Academy-Coastal policy also explicitly prohibits “manbuns” and ponytails for male students. Those styles are permitted for female students.

But, American Leadership Academy-Coastal specifies in its policy that exceptions to the policy “may be granted for medical necessity, religious or cultural beliefs,” if a request is approved by campus administration.

According to the ACLU, while charter schools are schools of choice, their students and parents are still protected from discrimination by North Carolina statutes.

The ACLU urged the school to make an exception for Logan and permit him to wear his hair in a bun as he has in the past. Mitchell said Logan can continue to do so pending the board’s final decision in April.

Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: As Leland charter criticized for hair policy, rules vary for others