A North Carolina charter school in Leland will no longer be allowed to enforce a dress code that required girls to wear skirts, following a recent Supreme Court decision, Your Content has learned.
The school, known as Charter Day School, had faced legal challenges claiming gender discrimination and violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Charter Day School justified its stringent dress code by stating that it aimed to promote chivalry and foster mutual respect between boys and girls, while also asserting that girls should be treated as “fragile vessels” deserving gentle treatment from their male classmates.
However, this policy faced opposition from parents who argued that it perpetuated gender stereotypes.
The school’s dress code discrepancy, which allowed boys to wear pants and shorts, was found to be a violation of equal protection rights by a lower court.
The Supreme Court declined to hear the case, effectively upholding the lower court’s decision.
Charter Day School, operated by Classical Charter Schools of America, has expressed its intention to comply fully with the ruling while maintaining its classical academic program.
The school has been a part of the North Carolina charter system for 24 years and offers a traditional-values-based education to students from kindergarten to Grade 8.
Charter schools in North Carolina, which are privately run but receive state funding, operate as tuition-free institutions open to all students.
The case against Charter Day School was brought forward by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of three students and their parents or guardians.
They argued that the dress code requirement reinforced harmful gender stereotypes, thereby violating the 14th Amendment.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that charter schools in North Carolina qualify as state actors due to their public funding and educational responsibilities.
Consequently, the court declared the dress code unconstitutional, as it conveyed the message that female students are fragile and should be treated differently than their male counterparts.
Charter Day School’s case received attention from President Joe Biden’s administration, which urged the Supreme Court not to grant the school’s appeal.
The denial of the appeal reinforces the notion that charter schools, despite their private management, must adhere to constitutional principles and promote inclusivity, according to DailyMail.