We, the undersigned parents, guardians, and community members, are writing to formally express our serious concerns regarding recent student walkouts during the school day and the lack of safeguards in place to protect minors.

No student should be permitted to leave campus during the school day without written parental consent authorizing early dismissal. We therefore request that Austin ISD not allow school-day walkouts and that any student who leaves campus without a parent consent letter be treated the same as any unauthorized early departure, in accordance with existing attendance, safety, and truancy policies.

Allowing or failing to prevent walkouts exposes students to potential legal, safety, and long-term consequences that were not clearly explained to students or families in advance.

There have been reports that federal agents photographed and documented individuals participating in these demonstrations, including minors. While documentation in public spaces may be lawful, such images and records may be retained in federal law-enforcement databases when agencies determine a public-safety or investigative purpose. Participation in events that escalate beyond lawful protest may result in individuals being flagged or associated with incident records, which could have unintended consequences later in life.

We are also concerned about the broader impact on the school community. Many students come from families where parents serve honorably in federal or state government roles, and these events risk creating division or an unwelcoming environment within our schools.

Additionally, the Texas Attorney General has formally requested information from Austin ISD regarding the student walkouts, including district communications, policies, and security protocols, underscoring the seriousness of this issue.

We respectfully request that Austin ISD:

-Prohibit school-day walkouts without written parental authorization.
-Enforce early-dismissal policies consistently across all campuses.
-Clearly communicate attendance and walkout policies to families in advance.
-Provide age-appropriate guidance on lawful civic engagement and its limits.
-Establish safeguards to ensure student safety during the instructional day.
-Commit to transparency with parents regarding district decisions and investigations.

Our goal is not to suppress student expression, but to ensure that student safety, parental consent, and lawful procedures are prioritized.