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Published: November 16, 2009

“You must do something to protect your children”

Another school board considers whether to allow students to leave campus without parents’ consent

The San Juan Unified School District in Sacramento County is scheduled tomorrow to discuss and vote on a change that would relax an existing policy governing when students may leave campus without parental consent for “confidential medical services,” including abortions.

The San Juan Unified School District, with 49 elementary schools, nine middle schools and nine high schools, represents the latest district to consider the matter in what has become a statewide, district-by-district controversy pitting groups like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU against parental rights advocates.

At issue is the interpretation of a provision of the state Education Code that took effect in 1986. That section of the Education Code says, "the governing board of each school district shall, each academic year, notify pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and the parents or guardians of all pupils enrolled in the district, that school authorities may excuse any pupil from the school for the purpose of obtaining confidential medical services without the consent of the pupil's parent or guardian."

Proponents of allowing students to leave campus without parental knowledge or consent for “confidential medical services” maintain the law requires school districts to adopt such a policy at the local level. Opponents, pointing to the words “school authorities may excuse any pupil,” say the law leaves the option to local school districts.

“San Juan Unified School District’s policy is currently ambiguous on this issue, which is allowing some minors to be let off campus,” according to Karen England, executive director of the pro-family lobbying group Capitol Resource Institute, in a Nov. 9 statement. “A new policy before the board would clarify current policy and allow all minor students to leave campus to receive confidential medical services without parental notification.”

The school board is scheduled to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the district offices at 3738 Walnut Avenue, in Carmichael.

“We are urging you to come to this meeting and let your voice be heard,” said England. “Please invite your friends and family members to come along with you. Your rights are being threatened and you must do something to protect your children and the children of others in the public school.”

Parental rights advocates have met with some success in the last year in persuading school boards to keep existing policies prohibiting students from leaving campus without parental knowledge or consent. In one case – Modesto – pressure from groups like Capitol Resource Institute, who rallied parents, resulted in the reversal of an earlier vote to permit students to leave school for “confidential medical services.” On June 22, the Modesto City School Board voted 4-3 to repeal an existing policy and replace it with a new one permitting junior high and high school students to leave campus during the school day for such “services.” But, following a CRI campaign to get parents involved in the issue, the Modesto school board reversed itself on Aug. 20.

“The Modesto School Board agreed to leave in place a parent-friendly confidential medical services policy,” said England in a statement issued following the Aug. 20 vote. “The policy requires students to obtain their parents' signature before they are allowed to leave campus. Organizations like Planned Parenthood, who profit from confidential medical services such as abortion or drug counseling, have been intimidating school boards with parent-friendly policies by telling them the law mandates they permit students to leave campus. However, the law clearly states that schools ‘may’ allow students to leave but are not required to. Parents are still in charge of whether their children leave school campus for medical treatment.”

On July 16, the Fairfield-Suisun board of education voted 5-2 to keep in place a policy requiring school officials to obtain parental permission before a student is allowed to leave campus for any reason. The board’s vote represented the second time in four years the school district’s governing body rejected attempts to liberalize the policy. On March 12, the Vista Board of Education in northern San Diego County unanimously adopted a policy requiring its students to have parental consent before leaving campus during the school day for medical services.

“We believe that having a strong showing from parents in the school district will make a big difference!” said England of the upcoming San Juan Unified school board meeting. To contact members of the board, click Here.

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