Central Valley Schools Caution Against Student Walkouts

Superintendents warn that leaving campus poses unacceptable safety risks for students.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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After a week of student walkouts across Central Valley school districts in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, local superintendents have issued a clear message: campuses off campus are an unacceptable risk to student safety. Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Michelle Cantwell-Copher and 10 other superintendents signed a letter urging parents and guardians to discourage students from leaving school grounds, citing concerns about students entering unsafe street traffic. While acknowledging students' valid concerns, the superintendents encourage finding ways for them to protest on campus instead.

Why it matters

The student walkouts reflect growing activism among Central Valley youth around immigration enforcement, but school officials are prioritizing student safety over allowing mass off-campus protests that could endanger participants. This tension between free speech rights and school security responsibilities highlights the challenges administrators face in balancing civic engagement and campus safety.

The details

Students have walked out of schools in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, and other Central Valley cities to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Michelle Cantwell-Copher and 10 other district superintendents signed a letter urging parents to discourage the walkouts, citing safety concerns about students leaving campus and entering street traffic. Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her and Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto also voiced opposition to the unsanctioned walkouts, with Casto noting the police department's duty to protect students' free speech rights while also ensuring their safety.

  • After a week of walkouts throughout Central Valley school districts

The players

Michelle Cantwell-Copher

Fresno County Superintendent of Schools who signed a letter with 10 other superintendents urging parents to discourage student walkouts due to safety concerns.

Misty Her

Fresno Unified School District Superintendent who stated that student walkouts are not endorsed or sponsored by the district and that student safety is the top priority.

Mindy Casto

Fresno Police Chief who acknowledged the department's duty to protect students' free speech rights while also ensuring their safety during the mass walkouts.

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What they’re saying

“I wasn't surprised by our students wanting to express themselves. I was very concerned about our students, leaving campus and entering into the streets in a manner that might be unsafe.”

— Michelle Cantwell-Copher, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (yourcentralvalley.com)

“Student walkouts are not endorsed or sponsored by the Fresno Unified School District. The safety of our students is and will always be our highest priority.”

— Misty Her, Fresno Unified Superintendent (yourcentralvalley.com)

“While the Fresno Police Department is sworn to protect students' First Amendment right to freedom of speech, the mass walkouts have brought about concerns for students' safety in traffic.”

— Mindy Casto, Fresno Police Chief (yourcentralvalley.com)

What’s next

Cantwell-Copher says students have valid concerns and their voices matter, but she encourages students and administrators to find ways for them to protest on campus instead of leaving school grounds.

The takeaway

This case highlights the delicate balance school administrators must strike between respecting students' free speech rights and ensuring their safety, as mass student walkouts pose significant security risks despite reflecting valid activism around important issues.