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Bill

S 368

An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for grooming and dress code violations

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Barrett and 8 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill restricts schools from suspending or expelling students solely for grooming and dress code violations to reduce disparate disciplinary impacts.

Accompanied a new draft, see S2955
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Bill Summary · S 368

Legislative bill overview

S 368 restricts schools' ability to use exclusionary discipline (suspensions, expulsions) for violations related to student grooming and dress codes. The bill aims to keep students in classrooms rather than removing them for appearance-based infractions, which sponsors argue disproportionately affect certain student populations.

Why is this important

Exclusionary discipline has documented disparate impacts on students of color and LGBTQ+ youth, who face higher rates of enforcement for subjective violations like hair, clothing, and grooming standards. Keeping students in school maintains educational access and can reduce long-term academic and behavioral outcomes associated with out-of-school time.

Potential points of contention

  • School autonomy vs. state mandate: Schools may argue they need flexibility to maintain dress codes as part of school safety, equality, or educational environment standards
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's scope regarding what constitutes "grooming and dress code violations" could be unclear—does it ban enforcement entirely or just exclusionary penalties?
  • Underlying disagreements: Fundamental disagreement exists over whether dress codes themselves address legitimate educational needs or perpetuate bias and distraction-based discipline against marginalized students

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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