WATSONVILLE, CA – Students hold constitutional rights, including the right to peaceful political expression at school. Participation in a walkout, when done safely and without violence or property damage, falls within those protections.
The purpose of a walkout or general strike is economic pressure. Students participate to disrupt normal economic activity and draw attention to policies harming their families and communities. Economic disruption is a core feature of protest. Civic action has meaning when expression produces real impact.
The California Department of Education issued guidance on January 29, 2026, in anticipation of student walkouts. This guidance addresses attendance accounting and school funding, not discipline. If a student attends any portion of the school day under supervision and then walks out, the district may still count the student present for attendance purposes. If a student does not attend school at all, the absence affects funding calculations, not student rights.
Participation in a walkout does not equal misconduct. Discipline requires a clear violation of school rules tied to safety or serious disruption. Peaceful political expression does not meet that standard.
Viewpoint discrimination occurs when a public institution punishes or restricts speech based on the political message or opinion being expressed. Schools engage in viewpoint discrimination when students face penalties for a protest or political position while other expression or absences receive different treatment. The First Amendment prohibits this type of selective punishment.
California law further supports students engaging in civic action. Senate Bill 955 amended the Education Code to allow school boards to excuse absences for civic engagement activities. Civic engagement includes participation in protests, marches, and actions tied to public issues and democratic participation. SB 955 applies to middle school and high school students.
Students and families may invoke SB 955 by notifying the school that the absence relates to civic engagement. Schools may require reasonable documentation, such as a written statement from the student or parent explaining the civic activity. When invoked, the absence should receive excused status under district policy.
Blocking students from school activities, including winter formal, solely due to participation in a peaceful walkout tied to economic protest raises serious constitutional concerns. Denying access based on political expression functions as viewpoint discrimination and conflicts with both the First Amendment and California law.
The district’s responsibility centers on student safety, supervision, and clear communication with families. Funding concerns belong in attendance recovery options identified by the state, not punitive responses aimed at silencing student voices.
I stand with students exercising their rights peacefully and expect our schools to respond with fairness, consistency, and respect for the law.
In solidarity,
Trustee Gabriel J. Medina
Area III
Pajaro Valley Unified School District