Supreme Court Blocks North Carolina Charter School's Skirt Mandate for Girls

The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Charter Day School in North Carolina, upholding an appellate ruling that barred the public charter school from requiring girls to wear skirts to school. The dress code was found to violate female students' equal protection rights by a federal appeals court, which concluded that public charter schools, as state actors, are subject to the Constitution's equal protection clause. The school's founder had said the dress code was intended to promote "chivalry" by male students and respect for female students.