Parents in a North Texas school district are expressing their frustration with its dress code, saying the regulations surrounding hair discriminate against Black boys.

According to Tatum Independent School District's dress code, “no ponytails, ducktails, rat-tails, male buns, or puffballs are allowed on male students.” The dress code adds that hair for a male “shouldn’t extend past the top of a t-shirt collar.”

Parents and members of the community attended the Tatum ISD board meeting Monday and expressed their concerns, according to KETK.

Randi Woodley, whose grandson was told his hair length didn't abide by the dress code, went in front of the board to advocate for the 4-year-old, KETK reported.

“I was told that I needed to see the principal. So I went to the principal’s office where she explained to me that my grandson’s hair was too long,” Woodley said.

Woodley said the superintendent gave her the option to cut her grandson's hair, braid it and pin it up or put him in a dress and claim him as a girl, KETK reported.

The concerned parents expressed they don't want their children to be ashamed of their natural hair.

“My son came home, saying 'Mom, I think there’s something wrong with my hair,'” Kambry Cox, another concerned parent said. “I teach him to be his own individual, and I don’t think he should ever feel insecure.”

A woman named Rachel Raye started an online petition on behalf of Woodley and her grandson, urging others to join in their effort to stop schools from forcing kids to change their hair.

According to Raye's statement on the petition, Woodley asked the superintendent why transgender students are allowed to wear their natural hair.

Woodley was told transgender students are guarded by the federal law because they have started a transition into a female lifestyle, Raye wrote. 

"When will the racial discrimination and injustice towards our sons, brothers, uncles, husbands and friends stop," Raye wrote. "Really a four-year-old boy. We need to be his voice."