A Needville ISD student said he missed prom, cannot participate in extracurricular activities and won’t be able to graduate because of the length of his hair.

HOUSTON – Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and the CROWN Coalition, a national alliance of organizations committed to outlawing hair discrimination, held a press conference in support of the CROWN Act on Thursday. The CROWN Act, which stands for “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and styles that are commonly associated with race. Arnold told KPRC 2 that his hair had been in compliance with school rules until recently. His story is now contributing to a national discussion about hair and discrimination. The Texas Legislative Black Caucus members say they support Arnold and the other students across Texas, and will discuss plans to introduce and pass the CROWN Act during the next legislative session.

See his journey so far:Barbers Hill Independent School District revised its dress code over winter break. (KPRC)The Barbers Hill School District released a written statement:“We do have a community supported hair length policy & have had for decades. Barbers Hill is a state leader with high expectations in all areas!”DeAndre Hopkins supports Barbers Hill High School student in dreadlocks controversy. — Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) January 22, 2020Arnold’s mother, Sandy Arnold, had later withdrawn her Arnold from Barbers Hill High School. “Once we first got on the news with Deandre (Arnold) then it just started becoming a problem,” said student Brandon Hernandez.

(CNN) – A teen whose hair has stirred both controversy and support is headed to the Academy Awards. Deandre Arnold, a senior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and his mother, Sandy, have been invited to attend as the guest of director Matthew A. Cherry, whose "Hair Love" is one of the front-runners for the Best Animated Short Oscar. "Deandre is such a good kid, and he shouldn't be punished for his hair. "We think his hair is beautiful and this is the least we could do to support him and show him love," Cherry added. It went viral, and he has a "Hair Love" children's book with illustrations by Vashti Harrison.