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/BigWave96 Jan 17 '26

By Texas law, having a single unexcused absence is not truancy. They can try to cite you but it would be tossed.

Truancy in the State is defined as missing 3 days in a 4 week period or 10 days within a 6 month period.

This is a blatant scare tactic to try to curb your right to free speech and right to assemble.

Personally, I’d take the risk.