The School District of Lee County does not tolerate disruptions to the educational environment. We have completed our review and disciplinary process for the walkouts that occurred February 4-6, 2026.
While students have First Amendment rights, the Supreme Court ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines that those rights do not protect behavior that disrupts the educational process. The Student Code of Conduct prohibits disruptive actions such as walking out of class, leaving campus without permission, and refusing to follow staff directives.
2,480 students have been identified as participating in the following disruptive behaviors:
2,037 skipping class or tardy to class
393 safety violations
50 insubordination/disrespect
The disruptive behaviors resulted in the following disciplinary actions. Discipline is determined by the level of the offense and a student’s behavioral history.
11 recommendations for reassignment to Success Academy
134 out-of-school suspensions
40 in-school suspensions
43 student conferences
7 parent meetings
208 other Level III interventions including but not limited to: Behavior contracts, Extra-curricular suspensions, Loss of privileges, and Restitution
2,037 warnings and/or zeroes on assignments
“The safety and security of our schools is our top priority,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin. “Ninety-six percent of our students adhered to the Student Code of Conduct by remaining in class and focused on their education during the protests. We are proud of the choice they made. We are also grateful to our students’ families for supporting the priorities of our school district and for reinforcing our behavioral expectations. Together, we can ensure a safe learning environment for all students.”