A day after the school board chair and superintendent of Brevard, Florida, warned thatstudents who participated in walkouts against Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions would be punished, Florida's education commissioner sent out guidance on handling the issue.
"The Florida Department of Education recently received correspondence from members of the Florida legislature regarding reports of organized student protest activity occurring during the school day," Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said in a letter issued Feb. 3 to Florida school districts. "I want to thank them for bringing this matter to my attention and for their leadership in elevating concerns related to student safety, instructional time, and the appropriate role of public schools."
He didn't specify which district the reports came from, but the letter came about 24 hours after posts about walkouts at high schools throughout Brevard began circulating online, prompting both School Board Chair Matt Susin and Superintendent Mark Rendell to warn students that if they participated, they would face discipline.
"While students may express their views in appropriate, lawful ways outside of the school day and off school property, disruptions to learning and campus operations will not be tolerated," Susin said in a statement posted to Brevard Public Schools' website.
Both Susin and Rendell said the walkouts were not affiliated with the district.
The letter won't change how the district will respond to walkouts, said Janet Murnaghan, chief strategic communications officer for BPS.
"Yesterday, Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell shared a letter with families outlining the district's expectations," Murnaghan said in an email to FLORIDA TODAY. "As noted in that communication, walkouts during the instructional day are not permitted, and standard attendance and disciplinary policies will apply."
Here's what Kamoutsas said.
Advertisement
Students have rights but may still be disciplined
Kamoutsas reminded educators and leaders that they "carry a responsibility to safeguard instructional time;" keep campuses safe; and follow the law, Board of Education rules and school board policies.
Still, he added that students have a constitutional right to free expression, adding that this includes the ability to participate in peaceful protests if "such expression complies with applicable law and school district policy."
"Any student whose actions are to the contrary should be appropriately disciplined," he said. "Districts have a responsibility to ensure that any protest activity does not interrupt instructional time, school operations and campus safety."
He went on to say that adults may not encourage, promote, organize or otherwise facilitate student participation in protests during the school day, and that conduct that distracts or undermines instruction could warrant discipline.
Additionally, he cited a Florida Board of Education rule that requires educators to "take reasonable precautions to distinguish between personal views and those of any educational institution or organization with which the individual is affiliated."
Addressing parents, he encouraged families to have conversations with students about the "importance of not allowing civic engagement to detract from time in the classroom."
Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker atfwalker@floridatoday.com. X:@_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today:Florida's education head sends guidance on ICE protests
