Our children are going to school in Southern California heat without adequate shade. This needs to change.

At Laguna Niguel Elementary School, large portions of the playground, outdoor gathering areas, and pickup areas have little to no effective shade. When temperatures climb into the 90s, children are exposed to intense sun and heat—and at times are forced to stay indoors because it is simply too hot to safely play outside.

This is not just uncomfortable. It is a health and safety issue.

Extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and repeated exposure to harmful UV radiation damages skin and increases the risk of skin cancer over time. Young children should not be unnecessarily exposed to these risks during their school day when something as basic as adequate shade can dramatically reduce direct sun exposure.

And it doesn’t end when the school day does. Parents, caregivers, younger siblings, and students are left standing outside during pickup in temperatures exceeding 90°F with little relief from the sun. It can be unbearable.

California regulations already recognize how important shade is for young children. California Code of Regulations, Title 5, §17778 requires qualifying California State Preschool Program outdoor spaces to “include adequate shade to protect preschool children from harmful sun exposure.” While this particular regulation does not universally govern every K–12 playground, the principle could not be clearer: children need protection from harmful sun exposure.

We are asking CUSD to act NOW:

Provide safe interim shade immediately while permanent solutions are developed.
Create a concrete plan for substantial permanent shade throughout the areas children use.

Pursue shade structures, canopies, trees, or other compliant solutions.

Identify available district funding, grants, fundraising, and community partnerships.

Give families a clear timeline for implementation.

We understand that permanent construction involves planning, permitting, and safety requirements. But bureaucracy cannot become the reason our children continue sitting, playing, and waiting in extreme sun without adequate protection.

Our children deserve recess. They deserve fresh air. They deserve to play outside. And they deserve a school environment that protects them from excessive heat and sun.

We are asking Capistrano Unified School District to treat adequate shade as the health and safety priority it is—and take action now.

Please sign and share this petition. Our kids need shade.