STATE SAYS NO TO SCHOOLS' PROTESTS PLEA IMMIGRATION WALKOUTS COULD COST LAUSD ALMOST $1 MILLION.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

Three days of student walkouts could cost Los Angeles Unified almost $1 million in attendance-based funding, which state officials said Thursday they would not reimburse.

California schools Superintendent Jack O'Connell said he has received numerous inquiries from districts statewide about waivers that would offset the cost of students skipping class to demonstrate for illegal immigrants' rights.

But O'Connell said the criteria that would allow reimbursements does not include students who miss school for protests.

``While I am pleased that students are engaging in civic debate and exercising their right to free speech and assembly, we must encourage them to enjoy these hard-fought liberties in ways that will not hinder their or their classmates' education,'' O'Connell said. ``I know you have already shared with your students the fact that missing school not only impacts their education, it also affects school funding.''

Waivers can be filed only for emergencies - such as fires, floods or earthquakes - or a labor strike involving transportation services, according to state education codes, O'Connell said.

Los Angeles Superintendent Roy Romer issued a statement expressing disappointment but did not say if the LAUSD would pursue other options.

``It's unfortunate there is little likelihood for appeal for the loss of state revenue resulting from the drop in student attendance during the walkouts,'' Romer said. ``We need every dollar we can get to support our schools.''

The state pays school districts $28.60 per day per student. Local school officials estimate 26,955 students walked out of classes on Monday, 7,685 on Tuesday and 211 on Wednesday, including 30 students from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys.

About 90 students were cited for truancy or loitering on Wednesday. No walkouts or citations were reported on Thursday, according to the LAUSD.

Meanwhile, legal experts are gearing up to help fight those citations, saying that many of the students attended public meetings, and can't be suspended for walking out under the California education code.

``We believe there are some defenses to these truancy tickets, including attending a public meeting,'' said Cynthia Anderson-Barker, a Los Angeles attorney and member of the National Legal Guild.

She believes O'Connell's reluctance to honor district waivers during the walkouts will change.

``I don't believe it's a done deal,'' she said.

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com