The Cobb County School District is warning students and parents that participating in planned student walkouts during the school day this Friday could result in disciplinary consequences, citing concerns about disruption to instruction and school operations.
In a statement posted on the district’s website, district officials said they are “aware of efforts by external groups to recruit students to leave class and attend a rally” on Friday, January 30. The district said leaving class without permission would violate the student code of conduct and could lead to out-of-school suspension, along with the loss of parking privileges, participation in athletics, and other extracurricular activities.
District leaders said the guidance is intended to ensure instructional time remains focused on teaching and learning and to prevent disruptions linked to activity planned by individuals or organizations not affiliated with the school system.
Cobb County School Board Chairman Randy Scamihorn said student protests held during instructional time are “inappropriate and ill-advised,” adding that consistent enforcement of school rules is necessary for schools to operate effectively.
“All schools need to have policies and rules that are fairly applied to all students,” Scamihorn said. He added that schools that fail to enforce established rules and expectations risk losing order, stating that they can “devolve into chaos.”
Planned Walkouts and Community Response
According to district officials, organizers unaffiliated with the Cobb County School District have circulated social media posts and graphics outlining walkouts at multiple Cobb County high schools, including schools in East Cobb. The posts list specific times and locations and encourage students to leave class to participate.
District officials said they are concerned that students are being encouraged by outside groups to leave class during instructional hours, rather than engaging in civic activity outside the school day.
Some parents have expressed concern about the planned demonstrations, saying that leaving class for protests disrupts learning. Others have said students should be allowed to express their views, provided it does not interfere with classroom instruction.
Reactions From Local Education Figures
The issue has also prompted responses from current and former school board candidates.
Laura Judge, activist and former candidate for Cobb County School Board Post 5 and, posted on social media defending the walkouts, describing them as student-led demonstrations and expressing support for students’ civic engagement.
Michael Garza, a declared candidate for the Cobb County School Board, also commented publicly, encouraging students to participate and criticizing the district’s disciplinary warnings as discouraging student expression.
District officials said the school system respects students’ rights to express their views but maintains that instructional time must remain uninterrupted. Students may engage in political expression outside of class time, as long as it complies with district policy.
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