Guidelines for Student Walkouts
HCPSS welcomes student voices, and all student voices must be treated equitably, regardless of their viewpoint.
Prior to a Student Walkout
Students who plan to lead a walkout will:
- Notify the school administration of their intent to hold a walkout at least seven school days before the intended event. This notification should be by email or meeting. This time frame allows administrators to prepare for a safe and orderly event for everyone involved.
- Assist with communication before and during the event. They will also help draft a message to be read to the student body.
- Collaborate with administrators to identify a location on the school campus for students to gather (gym, stadium, front of building, etc.), and a start time and duration (using flex time whenever possible).
Administrators will provide adult supervision and access to sound equipment so that student leaders can be heard during the walkout. They will also inform all staff of the plans and send an awareness message to parents.
During a Student Walkout
- No student will be required to participate. No student will be prevented from participating.
- Staff will be assigned to be present for the student walkout. Staff members will supervise, facilitate, and communicate during the walkout, but they will not participate in the walkout.
- During walkouts, students should represent the best ideals of integrity, personal responsibility, and respect.
- All signs, banners, slogans, and symbols used during student walkouts must align with the appropriate language and expression standards outlined in Howard County Board of Education policies 1010 and 9210. This includes refraining from any words or displays that depict profanity, hate speech, obscenity, violence, or promote the use of weapons or other illegal activities.
- Student participation will not result in disciplinary or academic consequences as long as it remains peaceful, adheres to all Board of Education policies, and does not exceed the event’s scheduled duration (See Appendix A—Relevant Howard County Board of Education Policies).
After a Student Walkout
- Once the walkout is concluded, teachers and other staff members will ensure participating students return to their classrooms/assigned areas.
- Students who do not return to class promptly following the event’s conclusion or who leave campus will be marked as having unexcused absences.
- It is important for students to share their voices and agency to support what they believe. Students should encourage classmates to seek help processing thoughts and feelings related to the event from student services if a walkout has impacted them.
- When there is a walkout, parents and guardians are updated after it takes place and encouraged to discuss the relevant issues with their children.
- Administrators and students will gather feedback from the larger community on the Student Walkout Process for future improvements.
Appendix A—Relevant Howard County Board of Education Policies
Students may exercise their rights and responsibilities as long as they do not interfere with the rights of others or a school’s ability to provide a safe and supportive environment. Additionally, students are responsible for making decisions with integrity, exercising civility, and assuring their actions are aligned with the Board of Education policies and HCPSS Student Code of Conduct.
Below are the policies most applicable to student walkouts/protests:
1000 Civility
1010 Anti-Discrimination
1040 Safe and Supportive Schools
3010 Emergency Preparedness and Response
3020 Trespassing or Willful Disturbance
8050 Teaching of Controversial Issues
8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools and Social Media
9010 Attendance
9020 Students’ Rights and Responsibilities
9200 Student Discipline (See also: Student Code of Conduct)
9210 Student Dress Code
9460 Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation