Adkison Elementary

Dear CUSD Community,

You may have heard of student protests happening in neighboring districts and across the country relative to immigration enforcement and recent national events. We are writing to inform you of a small, off-campus protest that occurred this morning involving our students, and to inform you about the district’s role and responsibility in supporting students’ rights to peaceful expression while prioritizing safety and ensuring the continuity of education.

What occurred

Today at approximately 9:20 a.m., a small number of Ceres High School students left campus to exercise their right to peacefully protest. The group remained within walking distance of the school and parents whose students were absent following first period were notified. Classrooms continued to operate normally, and the vast majority of Ceres High students remained engaged in learning at school.

Students’ right to peaceful expression

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that students do not forfeit their First Amendment rights at the school doors. State and federal laws and CUSD Board Policy support students’ right to peaceful expression.

We are sharing the information below to provide clarity for families about how student expression is addressed on campus and off campus, and the district’s role in each setting.

On-campus expression - Students have the right to exercise freedom of speech during non-instructional time, with certain limitations prohibiting expression that violates school rules, threatens others, or otherwise contributes to an unsafe school environment.

Off-campus expression - CUSD does not encourage students to miss instructional time. Procedures are in place for students to check out of school with parent approval for off-campus appointments or other needs. If students bypass these procedures to leave campus, our staff cannot provide the necessary supervision to ensure their safety. In such situations, our staff will remain on campus to ensure that the instructional day continues uninterrupted.

CUSD is committed to providing safe, welcoming, and effective learning environments for all students. If you have questions about CUSD attendance policies, or if your child needs support concerning national events or any other concerns, please contact their schoo