Mesa Public Schools students can now wear military regalia when they graduate

PHOENIX — Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne praised Mesa Public Schools on Wednesday for reversing a policy that prohibited students from wearing military regalia during graduation.

The policy first came to light after a Mesa High School student, Daniela Rascon-Rivas, claimed she was not allowed to wear her National Guard stole during graduation. She said she had been told she could wear it after the ceremony.

Horne then asked the state’s largest public school district to change the policy to allow the stole to be worn, previously releasing a statement saying the revision was necessary to recognize Rascon-Rivas’ hard work.

What is Mesa district saying about military regalia, graduation rule?

After Horne’s statement, Mesa Public Schools announced it would revise the policy.

Enlisted students graduating with the class of 2025 and beyond are now allowed to wear official military regalia during graduation ceremonies.

“I want to praise the Mesa school district for reversing this policy and urge any district or charter in the state who has such a restriction to do the same thing,” Horne said in a Wednesday statement.

In an official statement, the district said the choice reflects the district’s deep respect for students who have chosen to serve our country.

“Students who have worked very hard to prepare for service in the U.S. armed forces should be honored for their dedication and commitment to protecting the freedoms that often come at a very high cost,” Horne said. “Allowing them to wear officially recognized military stoles is appropriate and should be a universal practice for Arizona schools.”

The school district’s updated revision will be brought before the governing board this summer.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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