Protect students with disabilities in LAUSD: Allow GPS safety devices
The Issue
Every day, thousands of parents place their trust in schools to safeguard their children, particularly those with disabilities. However, when it comes to ensuring the safety of students at risk of wandering or elopement, more can and must be done. As a parent of an autistic child, I live in constant concern for my child’s safety. It is alarming and deeply unsettling to think that an avoidable incident might happen because we lack critical safety measures like GPS devices.
In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), there are countless children with disabilities who face the risk of wandering or elopement. According to the National Autism Association, 50% of children with autism are prone to wandering, a statistic that underscores the vulnerability of our children. Yet, solutions exist, and among them are GPS tracking devices, which are life-saving tools that can prevent tragedies.
AngelSense and similar GPS safety devices offer parents a way to monitor and ensure their child's safety in real-time. These tools allow guardians to take swift action should a child venture beyond the safety of school grounds. As we have learned from cities such as New York, where schools have successfully implemented these devices, they are instrumental in safeguarding children at risk.
LAUSD has yet to implement a district-wide policy that addresses the use of GPS devices for students with disabilities. It is imperative that we act now, before any more children face unnecessary risks. We call on LAUSD, the Board of Education, and the Division of Special Education to establish a clear policy allowing for individualized consideration of GPS safety devices for vulnerable students.
These devices are not an invasion of privacy, but a necessary precaution born out of love and the need for safety. They can ensure a child never ends up lost, frightened, or in danger. Our children deserve environments where learning is safe, and parents deserve the peace of mind that their children’s safety is prioritized.
Why Elopement Prevention and Student Safety Matter
Recent and historical incidents involving students with autism highlight the serious safety risks that can arise when a student leaves adult supervision or when appropriate supervision is in question.
September 2025 — Parmelee Avenue Elementary School, South Los Angeles
According to ABC7 reporting published in October 2025, a 5-year-old autistic student reportedly left his kindergarten classroom, reached the street outside the school, and was struck by a vehicle, suffering serious injuries. His family filed a claim against LAUSD alleging inadequate supervision. This incident underscores the potentially life-threatening consequences when a young child with autism leaves supervised school areas.
Source: ABC7 News
October 2026 — Diane S. Leichman Career Preparatory and Transition Center, Reseda
According to PEOPLE reporting, an 18-year-old student with autism left the school on October 16, 2026, and was missing for three days before being found safe on October 19. His family raised concerns about the timing of the school’s notification. Although the student was unharmed, the incident illustrates the distress and uncertainty families can experience when a student with autism goes missing.
Source: PEOPLE
June 2014 — Garfield High School and Atlantic Avenue Park, East Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Times reported that a 16-year-old autistic student, drowned during a school-sponsored event. His family alleged that he had been left inadequately supervised near a swimming pool and filed a claim against LAUSD. This case illustrates the importance of appropriate supervision for students whose disabilities may affect their ability to recognize or respond to danger.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Why These Incidents Matter
These reports involve different circumstances and do not establish that GPS tracking devices would have prevented the outcomes. However, they demonstrate why student safety, appropriate supervision, timely communication with families, and individualized risk assessments deserve serious attention.
We urge LAUSD to establish a clear district-wide policy that allows individualized consideration of GPS safety devices such as AngelSense for students with disabilities who are at risk of elopement. The policy should balance student privacy with safety, permit reasonable safeguards such as disabling listening and calling functions during school hours, and ensure that disputes over devices do not unnecessarily deprive students of classroom instruction.
Families should not have to wait for a child to be injured or go missing before their safety concerns receive meaningful consideration.
This petition seeks justice and safety for students who cannot advocate for themselves. We must be proactive, rather than reactive, to protect our most vulnerable children. Join us in urging LAUSD to allow GPS safety devices for at-risk students. Please sign this petition to make our schools a safer place for all students.
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The Issue
Every day, thousands of parents place their trust in schools to safeguard their children, particularly those with disabilities. However, when it comes to ensuring the safety of students at risk of wandering or elopement, more can and must be done. As a parent of an autistic child, I live in constant concern for my child’s safety. It is alarming and deeply unsettling to think that an avoidable incident might happen because we lack critical safety measures like GPS devices.
In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), there are countless children with disabilities who face the risk of wandering or elopement. According to the National Autism Association, 50% of children with autism are prone to wandering, a statistic that underscores the vulnerability of our children. Yet, solutions exist, and among them are GPS tracking devices, which are life-saving tools that can prevent tragedies.
AngelSense and similar GPS safety devices offer parents a way to monitor and ensure their child's safety in real-time. These tools allow guardians to take swift action should a child venture beyond the safety of school grounds. As we have learned from cities such as New York, where schools have successfully implemented these devices, they are instrumental in safeguarding children at risk.
LAUSD has yet to implement a district-wide policy that addresses the use of GPS devices for students with disabilities. It is imperative that we act now, before any more children face unnecessary risks. We call on LAUSD, the Board of Education, and the Division of Special Education to establish a clear policy allowing for individualized consideration of GPS safety devices for vulnerable students.
These devices are not an invasion of privacy, but a necessary precaution born out of love and the need for safety. They can ensure a child never ends up lost, frightened, or in danger. Our children deserve environments where learning is safe, and parents deserve the peace of mind that their children’s safety is prioritized.
Why Elopement Prevention and Student Safety Matter
Recent and historical incidents involving students with autism highlight the serious safety risks that can arise when a student leaves adult supervision or when appropriate supervision is in question.
September 2025 — Parmelee Avenue Elementary School, South Los Angeles
According to ABC7 reporting published in October 2025, a 5-year-old autistic student reportedly left his kindergarten classroom, reached the street outside the school, and was struck by a vehicle, suffering serious injuries. His family filed a claim against LAUSD alleging inadequate supervision. This incident underscores the potentially life-threatening consequences when a young child with autism leaves supervised school areas.
Source: ABC7 News
October 2026 — Diane S. Leichman Career Preparatory and Transition Center, Reseda
According to PEOPLE reporting, an 18-year-old student with autism left the school on October 16, 2026, and was missing for three days before being found safe on October 19. His family raised concerns about the timing of the school’s notification. Although the student was unharmed, the incident illustrates the distress and uncertainty families can experience when a student with autism goes missing.
Source: PEOPLE
June 2014 — Garfield High School and Atlantic Avenue Park, East Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Times reported that a 16-year-old autistic student, drowned during a school-sponsored event. His family alleged that he had been left inadequately supervised near a swimming pool and filed a claim against LAUSD. This case illustrates the importance of appropriate supervision for students whose disabilities may affect their ability to recognize or respond to danger.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Why These Incidents Matter
These reports involve different circumstances and do not establish that GPS tracking devices would have prevented the outcomes. However, they demonstrate why student safety, appropriate supervision, timely communication with families, and individualized risk assessments deserve serious attention.
We urge LAUSD to establish a clear district-wide policy that allows individualized consideration of GPS safety devices such as AngelSense for students with disabilities who are at risk of elopement. The policy should balance student privacy with safety, permit reasonable safeguards such as disabling listening and calling functions during school hours, and ensure that disputes over devices do not unnecessarily deprive students of classroom instruction.
Families should not have to wait for a child to be injured or go missing before their safety concerns receive meaningful consideration.
This petition seeks justice and safety for students who cannot advocate for themselves. We must be proactive, rather than reactive, to protect our most vulnerable children. Join us in urging LAUSD to allow GPS safety devices for at-risk students. Please sign this petition to make our schools a safer place for all students.
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Petition created on October 26, 2026