As trust breaks down, walkouts have become a custody battle over who is responsible for student safety. When schools accompany students off campus during instructional hours, notification and consent remain unclear—who is accountable under law?
On Friday, February 6, students at Sylvester Middle School in Burien participated in a walkout, continuing a recent pattern of student demonstrations across the Highline School District tied to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity nationwide.
Parents reported that students as young as 11 left campus carrying anti-ICE signs and walked through neighborhood streets accompanied by teachers and other district staff. One Sylvester parent said families were not notified in advance, though their child knew a protest was planned after classmates made signs during class the day before.
Parents who contacted The Highline Journal emphasized that their concern is not about the political message of the protest. It is about custody, consent, and student safety when children leave campus during the school day under staff supervision.
In response to questions from The Highline Journal, district spokesperson Tove Tupper said, “Public schools must respect students’ rights to expression and ensure student safety through supervision. We work to support students regardless of whether they choose to participate or not.”
For some parents, that explanation does not address a core issue: when schools accompany students off campus during instructional hours, who is legally responsible for those children, and when are parents entitled to be notified or asked for consent?
A districtwide pattern
Student walkouts tied to national and local political issues have taken place at most middle and high schools in the Highline District in recent weeks.
Several parents said they were surprised to learn after the fact that teachers and administrators had escorted students off campus. Parents repeatedly stressed that their concerns are not ideological. They are focused on how student safety and parental authority are handled once students leave school grounds during the school day.
Mixed messages from Highline High School
At Highline High School, a February 2 walkout was followed by a written update from Principal Clint Sallee. In that message, Sallee stated that hundreds of students left campus during instructional hours, marched along public streets toward the Burien Library and through downtown Burien, and returned to school before lunch.
The message also said students were accompanied along the route by school administrators, teachers, and staff volunteers who helped monitor safety and traffic behavior.
Those details are not in dispute. They come directly from the school’s own communication to families and illustrate how walkouts have been handled when school leadership is aware of them in advance.
Where parental and student rights intersect
Washington law affirms that students do not lose their right to free expression at school. RCW 28A.600.025 protects students’ ability to engage in peaceful protest, and schools generally may not discipline students based on the viewpoints they express.
Parents raising concerns say this issue is not about whether students may protest. It is about what happens when that protest occurs during the school day and under school supervision.
Another state law, RCW 28A.605.010, governs when children may be removed from school grounds during the school day. The statute states that students may only be removed by a person authorized by a parent or guardian, unless otherwise provided by law. When students independently leave campus, schools typically mark the absence unexcused and notify parents afterward. That is considered an attendance matter.
The situation changes when school staff escort, accompany, or supervise students off campus. In those cases, schools are acting in place of the parent and assuming responsibility for student safety. Under that framework, parental authorization is generally required unless the activity is a formally approved school event.
A Cascade Middle School parent, Vance Glawe, cited the same statute and has raised nearly $4,500 toward a potential lawsuit against the Highline School District, alleging his child was put in danger during a walkout. No lawsuit has been filed.
“My concern for the children’s safety for going out to a protest without a permission slip from the parents or even giving them a call is unacceptable and is child endangerment.” — Glawe
A district-level decision
While principals are often the public face of school communications, decisions about how walkouts are handled typically reflect district-level guidance. Districts must balance student speech rights with safety, liability, and custodial responsibilities.
Several parents told The Highline Journal they believe the conflict lies in how student rights are prioritized over parental consent once staff supervision is involved.
Highline District’s response
In response to questions from The Highline Journal, Highline Public Schools provided the following written statement:
“Students at a few of our schools have organized student-led walkouts in recent weeks. These demonstrations were student-led and were not organized or sponsored by the school or district. Regular classes continued during the school day for students who remained on campus.
“When school leadership is informed in advance of a walkout, families are notified ahead of time. In some instances, students do not alert staff beforehand. In those cases, schools communicate with families after the event.
“Staff do not encourage participation. Students can choose to participate or remain in class, and students who stay continue their normal school schedule in supervised learning spaces. Students who leave class to participate are marked unexcused unless cleared by a parent or guardian.
“Public schools must respect students’ rights to expression and ensure student safety through supervision. We work to support students regardless of whether they choose to participate or not.”
— Tove Tupper, APR, Chief Communications Officer
Parents who spoke with The Highline Journal said they are seeking clearer guidance on how supervised walkouts differ from other off-campus activities during the school day, such as field trips, and what notification or consent procedures apply when staff accompany students off campus.
Jeb Binns, president of the Highline Education Association, did not respond to a request for comment.
For families raising concerns, the unresolved question remains: when schools supervise students off campus during the school day, how are parental rights, student safety, and legal custody balanced — and who ultimately decides?
