ORLANDO, Fla. – Walkout protests over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity have spread to high schools across Central Florida, prompting warnings from state and local school officials that students who leave class during instructional time could face disciplinary consequences.
Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez said students are encouraged to discuss the issue with their parents but emphasized that walking out during class time violates district policy.
“Our staff knows what needs to happen,” Vazquez said. “Our students understand that we maintain an orderly environment.”
Vazquez said the district has not had recent issues with walkout protests but remains prepared when notified in advance.
“Any time we are alerted that it’s going to happen, and it has typically been a few days in advance, we ensure that everyone is aware what will happen if there is a disruption or if students miss instructional time,” she said.
Parents are receiving messages forwarded from the Florida Department of Education outlining potential consequences for students who participate in walkouts during school hours.
[BELOW: Brevard schools highlight differences between upcoming ICE protest and prior school walkout]
Brandon Morel, a parent with two children in Orange County schools, said the issue is complicated.
“It’s a tricky subject,” Morel said. “On one side, they are breaking the rules, but on the other side, the cause is just.”
In Lake County, school officials said a group of students walked out Wednesday during an ICE protest outside Leesburg High School. The district warned that students who participated may face suspension.
In a statement, the district said it “recognizes that students retain First Amendment rights,” but added that leaving campus without authorization and refusing directives to return to class “creates serious safety and supervision concerns and causes disruption of school operations.”
In Brevard County, social media posts indicate multiple ICE-related protests are planned Friday at three high schools. Earlier this week, Brevard County School Board Chair Matt Susin reminded students of potential consequences for participating in walkouts.
“From some of the reports that are coming back and forth, it seems that a lot of the kids are seeing the fact that it’s just become a bunch of adults fighting each other online,” Susin said. “The true nature of what that protest might be is kind of being lost.”
School districts across Central Florida say they will continue monitoring for planned walkouts and reiterate that students who miss class time or leave campus without permission may face disciplinary action.