Parent claims Las Vegas-area school barred student from wearing cultural grad regalia, then reversed decision
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A mother told 8 News Now she is upset with the way a Las Vegas-area high school handled a situation regarding her daughter’s graduation regalia.
The mother claims her daughter was reportedly barred from honoring her culture and late father, but within two days administrators at Eldorado High School shifted gears.
“I ask – ‘this is because of her dad that she wants to wear that.’ And [the administrator] just [said], ‘We ask that all kids wear nothing but Eldorado cords or medallions during the ceremony,’” Katie Franco said.
Franco described her conversation with Eldorado High School Assistant Principal Lisa Sykes.
On Monday, the school notified Franco’s daughter that she was prohibited from wearing a sash or a stole of the Mexican and Guatemalan flags and placing a charm pendant on her cap.
“It is a picture of her dad, he passed away of stomach cancer last year,” Franco said.
However, she said after the public became aware of the situation on social media, including the ACLU of Nevada’s executive director posting about it on X, Franco received an email at 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday from Sykes. It read, “approved based on updated guidelines.”
“I had to go through all this, but now, I’m like, you know. My concern is everyone else,” Franco said.
Athar Haseebullah, ACLU’s executive director, told 8 News Now that CCSD is prohibited from taking such action under the recently passed law.
“We view this to say a student can’t wear a stole as a blanket violation of that rule,” Haseebullah said.
The law states a pupil, whether in university or K-12, is entitled to wear traditional tribal regalia or recognized objects of religious and cultural significance at a graduation ceremony.
“There are still schools here that want to say that students can’t express themselves in a manner that’s consistent with the law, which would be through the wearing of stoles. It’s ridiculous,” Haseebullah said.
The law, passed in 2023 as AB73, states parents and students can appeal a denial to the Nevada Department of Education.
Graduations at Eldorado High School are scheduled for May 24.
8 News Now reached out to CCSD regarding the issue at Eldorado High School, and they sent the following statement:
As of April 19, 2024, the Clark County School District rescinded the Graduation Participation Agreement. Students are permitted to wear traditional tribal regalia or recognized objects of religious or cultural significance as an adornment to their cap and gown in accordance with AB73. CCSD encourages all students and families to be mindful of the occasion and respectful of their fellow graduates so that everyone can enjoy the ceremony equally.
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