Butler High School To Hold Special Meeting On New Hair Policy

Butler Traditional High School's School-Based Decision-Making Council has called a special meeting regarding a controversial hair policy.

The school last week temporarily suspended a dress code that bans certain hair styles amid outrage from the community after Kentucky Rep.-elect Attica Scott, whose daughter is a student at Butler, tweeted a photo of the policy.

The policy bans dreadlocks, cornrows, braids and twists in students’ hair -- styles traditionally worn by African Americans.

A social media firestorm followed with parents of Butler students and other community members calling the policy racist and discriminatory, and demanding it be rescinded.

According to a news release sent Wednesday, the Butler SBDM Council will meet Thursday to discuss the following recommended language for a new hair policy:

• Hair must be well-groomed, well-kept, and at a reasonable length.
  
  
  
  • Reasonable length for males means hair no longer than three inches and must be above the collar, the ears, and the eyebrows.

• Both males and females must have a natural hair color.
  
  
  
  • No unnatural hair colors (e.g. pink, orange, green, purple, blue, etc.).
  • No severe contrasts.

• Hair must be free from designs, names, or lines cut into the hair.
  
  
  
  • One straight line is permissible to be cut into the hair for a part.

• Females only may wear headbands.
  
  
  
  • Must be worn in the hair, not across the forehead.

• Bandanas are not allowed.

Confusion surrounded a meeting regarding the current policy last week when some Butler students said the policy only applied to male students. Jefferson County Public Schools officials confirmed that to WFPL News.

JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens said last week that district officials will review all school policies approved by individual SBDM Councils.

The special meeting to discuss new language for the policy is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Butler Traditional High School.