LELAND, N.C. — Combing and braiding a 6-year-old boy's hair isn't always easy, but it's routine for mom Ashley Lomboy. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Logan Lomboy must have his hair cut by March 29, when school starts back

  •  His hair is part of his cultural attire he wears for traditional dances

  •  Classical Charter Schools has four locations in eastern North Carolina

“It’s taken a while to get it this long, because he does have naturally curly hair," Lomboy said. "We’re just happy we were able to braid it at this point.” 

For over a year, she has styled Logan Lomboy's hair in a braid before school in staying in compliance with the school's grooming code of boys hair, which states it needs to be off the collar and ears. 

Now, the school is saying it needs to be cut before returning to the Classical Charter Schools of Leland. 

“Then to be told that what we were doing is considered a fad is kind of a double whammy, because culturally it’s not a fad," Ashley Lomboy said. "People have been wearing their hair in a braid since time and memorial on these same lands.”

Logan Lomboy's hair is significant to him because he is a member of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe. 

He’s also a dancer, who performs at tribal events, and his mother says his hair is part of his attire. 

Ashley Lomboy says teaching her son about his heritage is just as important as his school education. 

“To raise my son in a way that he can learn and appreciate his culture, and I have the ability of teaching him that is such an important aspect of being able to carry on these traditions for the next seven generations," Lomboy said.

According to the grooming standards at Classical Charter Schools of America: "Hair must be neatly trimmed and off the collar, above the eyebrows and not below the top of the ears or eyebrows, and not excessive in height. Hair cannot be distracting, extreme, radical, or faddish haircuts, hair styles, and colors are not allowed."

Lomboy did file a grievance for her son's hair stating the historical significance and the United States Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which prohibits forced assimilation and destruction of culture. 

The grievance was denied.

“I immediately wrote back and asked for them to reconsider that pulling my children out of asking us to cut his hair so far into the school year would be detrimental to their education," Lomboy said.

Lomboy, along with parents of children affected at other schools, are now calling on legislators to once again look at the Crown Act, a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair style and texture, particularly in schools. 

Although the law passed in several other states, a bill brought up in 2022 in North Carolina didn't receive much traction.

She hopes this year is different. 

“That would help not only African Americans, but also Natives and any other nationalities that are being discriminated against because of their hair,” she said.

Spectrum News 1 contacted the Classical Charter Schools of Leland but has not received a response.