The decision prompted an outcry from religious leaders around the country and a threatened lawsuit from Green’s family and the American Civil Liberties Union.
“We realized that it infringed on freedom of religious expression, and that freedom supersedes the safety issues,” Randy Williams, the board’s president, said in explaining the board’s reversal.
Jewish leaders hailed the move as an important victory for religious freedom and hoped it would send a signal to other school districts that do not show enough sensitivity to the rights of religious minorities.
Although religious symbols worn by students have rarely been a source of contention, a number of controversies have been generated in recent years by student-led prayer at graduation ceremonies and at assemblies.
“We hope that this particular incident, resolved correctly in short order and with little fuss, will prevent other school districts from acting in a manner insensitive to the religious rights of students,” Nathan Diament, director of the Orthodox Union’s Institute for Public Affairs, said.
Tom Green, Ryan’s father, was quoted as saying he had “a wonderful feeling” due to the victory.
“We are truly joyous,” he said. “As a father to a son this is the best principle I could teach him: Stand up for your rights.”