ATLANTA — On Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, the ACLU of Georgia sent a letter to Cobb County School District board members raising concerns that the district has threatened students with discipline to discourage participation in a walkout protest during the school day.
In the letter, the ACLU of Georgia reminds the district that students do not lose their First Amendment rights at school. While schools may set attendance policies, they cannot punish students more harshly because of the political nature of their speech.
“We urge the Cobb County School District and other districts to use this moment to affirm our shared values as a free society under the Constitution. Rather than silencing students or treating free expression as a threat, the district should be teaching young people what civic engagement looks like in practice and why the First Amendment matters,” said Cory Isaacson, legal director, ACLU of Georgia.
Read our letter to the Cobb County School District here.
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