education minor colorado
Is it legal to walk out of school, unexcused in Colorado
<p>There are several school walkouts coming up in Colorado and nationwide that I plan to participate in, most likely without my parent's permission/knowledge. I am 16. Is this legal?</p>

<p>One of the relevant cases is <a href="https://www.aclu.org/other/tinker-v-des-moines-landmark-supreme-court-ruling-behalf-student-expression" rel="noreferrer">Tinker vs. Des Moines</a>.</p>

<p>In it, students wore black armbands in protest, and were suspended from school unless they agreed to remove the armbands.  Because their protest was non-disruptive, the school's position was found to be a violation of their civil rights.  Generally, the school cannot interfere with students' rights to free speech and civil liberties.   That does not mean that students are free from discipline however.</p>

<p>If students walk out, whether in protest of a great injustice, or just to get lunch, or go to a concert, the school can discipline the student for walking out.</p>

<p>What the school <strong><em>cannot</em></strong> do, however, is treat the reason for the walkout differently.   They cannot give minor detention for one reason (say, a rock concert), and a full suspension for politically motivated walk-out.</p>

<p>If they are dispensing harsher punishments based on the <em>reason</em> for the walkout, that is crossing a big line.</p>

<p>More detailed discussion can be found at <a href="http://time.com/5171160/gun-control-student-protest-history/" rel="noreferrer">http://time.com/5171160/gun-control-student-protest-history/</a></p>
