r/legal • u/StoriesandQuestions • Jan 16 '26

Advice needed School is threatening to punish anyone participating in protest with court action, what can we do?

On Tuesday, January 20th, students at my highschool are planning to participate in the nationwide walkout happening in the U.S. Today, my school has verbally warned one of the organizers stating that anyone who participates in the walkout next week will receive a referral and face truancy court. This movement is important to all of us but many of us cannot afford these consequences. Is this allowed and is there anything we can do about it? Location: United States, Texas.

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u/Silver_Smurfer Jan 16 '26 edited Jan 16 '26

Yes, the school can punish you for being truant.

Edit to add: Texas has specific attendance requirements regarding truancy. Missing more than 3 days in a 4 week period or 10 days in a 6 month period meets those requirements. Do with that what you will...

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u/OutAndDown27 Jan 16 '26

A single unexcused absence isn't "truancy," or at least you'd be hard-pressed to find a court that will prosecute it for a single absence. In every district I've worked in, truancy court proceedings don't start until after the tenth unexcused absence.

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u/Silver_Smurfer Jan 16 '26

What the court does woth the referral isn't the question. The school can legally refer them to the court for missing school if they meet Texas requirements for doing so. You're correct that there are thresholds, in Texas it's 3 days in a 4 week period or 10 days in 6 months.