Father-Daughter Dances at the Senate

The Senate Education Committee will hear testimony today about whether schools should be allowed hold father-daughter dances.

The hearing comes after controversy in Cranston over a single mother who said her daughter was denied access to a dance. She wrote to the district charging the policy violates anti-discrimination laws. Cranston school officials responded by banning father-daughter dances, prompting community outcry.

The Senate Education Committee is now considering legislation that would exempt father-daughter and mother-son dances from anti-discrimination laws, as long as comparable activities are available for both sexes. The hearing is scheduled for this afternoon at the rise of the Senate.