Malden Charter School Student Given Uniform Violation For Wearing Hijab, Family Says

MALDEN, MA — Mystic Valley Regional Charter School (MVRCS) in Malden is facing criticism after family members said on Friday that it sent a student to the office for a uniform infraction for wearing a hijab on her first day of school.

Family members shared photos of a violation form said to be from the school, prompting immediate outcry. The form listed the uniform infraction as "Jihab," which family members identified as a misspelling of "hijab."

The school responded in a statement on Sunday, saying that it "wishes to express its regret at how the recent incident of one of our Muslim students who chose to express her faith by wearing the hijab was mishandled."

The school noted a policy allowing students to wear religious attire. Under the policy, the school asks students to provide a letter from a religious leader stating that desire, according to the statement.

"While we would like to reiterate that the well-respected staff member overseeing the process should bear no responsibility for what has transpired, we understand how our handling of the situation came across as insensitive and look forward to using this moment as a learning opportunity to improve our policies and procedures," the school said.

Malden City Councilor Ryan O’Malley previously called on the state to revoke Mystic Valley’s charter following this incident, calling the Mystic Valley Charter School "a pariah."

Malden Mayor Gary Christenson issued a separate statement on Saturday night in response to the incident.

“We were saddened like so many other Malden residents to learn of the recent issue a Malden family experienced with their daughter on the wearing of her hijab while attending Mystic Valley Regional Charter School,” Christenson said, in part.

Mystic Valley Charter School enrolls close to 1,600 students in grades K-12, according to state data. Its students live in area communities including Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham and Wakefield, as noted on the school’s website.

This is not the first time the school has been in the spotlight.

In 2017, state Attorney General Maura Healey ordered that Mystic Valley stop punishing students for wearing certain hairstyles. The AG was responding to a series of detentions and suspensions for Black female students at the school who were told their hair extensions violated the school’s dress code. The experience of students Mya Cook and Deanna Cook later helped prompt the state to pass the Crown Act earlier this year, explicitly banning discrimination based on hairstyles in Massachusetts.

Also in 2017, the Mystic Valley Charter School only let a student start a Gay-Straight Alliance club after the American Civil Liberties Union stepped in, according to the Boston Globe.

In 2020, among other issues, a petition called for widespread change after a series of social media posts by school co-founder Neil Kinnon where he, in part, called systemic racism a “false narrative” while sharing a Wall Street Journal opinion article entitled "The Myth of Systemic Police Racism," according to the Globe.

Last year, the school then drew further attention when it sued the state over new cultural performance criteria for schools, as first reported by the Boston Herald.

Christenson addressed some of the school’s past issues in his statement on Saturday.

“I understand that MVRCS has been unwavering in the commitment to its uniform policy, however, as a prominent member of our Muslim community stated, wearing hijab is a protected right, it is not part of a uniform and should not be looked at as such,” Christenson said.

Christenson didn't name the local community member he was referencing.

Former Malden Islamic Center Director Nichole Mossalam did make a statement on Friday, however, directly recalling Mya and Deanna Cook.

"It is horrible that this continues to happen in our community," Mossalam said. "Make no mistake, just like what happened with the Cook sisters that resulted in the Crown Act, this is a form of discrimination and intimidation by MVRCS against our young Muslim women."

Christenson said he had been in contact with state legislators, adding that he had reached out to the student’s family “to offer our support and assistance.”

“I have also spoken with Alex Dan, Director of MVRCS, and George Warren, Chair of the Board, and encouraged them to create a policy that better reflects the open-minded approach we all must commit to and based on those conversations, I am hopeful that there will be a change accordingly in the near future,” he said.

Mystic Valley Charter School outlines its dress code policy in its student handbook, saying in part that "any kind of head covering, including hats, bandanas and netting, are not allowed." The handbook goes on to note that "the school will make reasonable accommodations for students with sincerely held religious beliefs or documented medical health issues."

The school discussed its uniform policy in its statement on Sunday, saying the policy helps create "a well-mannered, disciplined and structured environment" that is "integral to maintaining a standard that has resulted in excellent outcomes for all students."

The school said it takes religious accommodations to its uniform policy "very seriously," saying that this recent incident has shown that it needs to adjust its practices.

The school has begun reaching out to the religious community for input on how it can handle religious accommodations in the future, its statement said.

"We look forward to obtaining the input of the interfaith community, to resolving the current issue in a timely manner, and to sharing the product of our work soon," the school said. "Our work has always been, and remains, about the children."

The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Saturday said its lawyers are representing the family involved in this recent incident.

“The family has authorized us to let you know that the immediate situation is under control, as the student is wearing her hijab in school,” the council said in a statement.

“We will continue to investigate what happened, review the policies of the school, and research applicable state and federal laws,” the council said. “We will also interview witnesses and listen to our community partners. We are all justifiably concerned about this young student and want to make sure that she is safe, and that her religious rights are respected and protected. Your continued support is necessary.”

UPDATE: This article has been updated with a response from the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School.