Students in Texas public schools face a civil rights crisis, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU of Texas) is stepping in to provide critical support. The organization launched its redesigned Students’ Rights Hub, a comprehensive online resource that empowers students, parents, and educators to fight for their rights and create safer, more inclusive schools.
The Students’ Rights Hub offers vital information and support on a range of issues impacting Black students, including discriminatory dress codes, classroom censorship, and state-sponsored religion. It also provides in-depth resources on the Texas CROWN Act, which protects Black students’ right to wear their hair naturally.
“The heart of our education system is its students, and they deserve better than censorship and discrimination from state officials and special interest groups,” said Caro Achar, engagement coordinator for free speech at the ACLU of Texas. “Texas students face unprecedented attacks on their freedom to express themselves and on their freedom to learn. It’s crucial that students, parents, educators, and advocates come together to create schools where every student is supported and treated with dignity. A safe and welcoming school environment isn’t just a goal — it’s a right. Together, we must demand the schools our students deserve.”
One of the most pressing issues facing students is the enforcement of discriminatory dress codes that often target hairstyles traditionally worn by Black people, such as braids, locs, and afros. The Texas CROWN Act, a landmark legislation, prohibits schools from discriminating against hair textures or protective hairstyles commonly associated with race.
“The passage of the CROWN Act is more than just a legal victory — it’s a declaration that Black students deserve to show up fully as ourselves in every space, including schools,” said Da’Taeveyon Daniels, a Fort Stockton Independent School District senior. “This law ensures that we can embrace our heritage without fear of discrimination, empowering us to be our authentic selves in an environment that values and respects our diversity.”
Despite the CROWN Act, many Texas school districts enforce discriminatory dress code policies. The ACLU of Texas has sent letters to dozens of school districts demanding that they update their policies to comply with the law.
In addition to dress code issues, Black students are also facing a wave of classroom censorship that limits their access to diverse perspectives and stories. The state has banned hundreds of books, many of which deal with issues of race, gender, and sexuality.
“Classroom censorship stifles diverse stories, leaving students with a fragmented understanding of the world and themselves,” said Selina Peña, a high school English teacher at Laredo Independent School District. “It silences voices that challenge, inspire, and teach, preventing students from forming a more just and empathetic future.”
