LA Charter School Bars Unvaccinated Seniors From Grad Ceremony

GRANADA HILLS, CA — With just two days until graduation at Granada Hills Charter High School, a group of parents and students rallied outside the school Tuesday in protest of a policy barring unvaccinated students from participating in the ceremony.

The policy means that roughly 70 graduating seniors won't get to attend the school's outdoor graduation ceremony Tuesday, according to the protest organizers. Granada Hills Charter's vaccination policy is one of the strictest in the state as is its graduation ceremony vaccine requirement. However, the school isn't alone. Several universities such as Fordham and Columbia have made headlines this year for also requiring proof of vaccination from guests planning to attend the graduation ceremony.

According to the protesting parents, Granada Hills Charter's policy will prevent 70 unvaccinated high school seniors from attending graduation ceremonies, including eight special-needs students.

"I think it's terrible," parent Tom Luna told KNX Newsradio at the rally. "I think it's unfair to these kids that they're being discriminated against just because they're unvaccinated. I think that Granada Hills Charter should go along with the rest of LAUSD and let these kids go to school and graduation. There's no reason not to."

Senior Andrew Luna, who chose to do independent study rather than get vaccinated, said the school's policy has been divisive.

"It's heartbreaking, to say the least. This vaccine mandate has no doubt divided much of the student population," he told FOX 11. "It's heartbreaking to see many of my past achievements and my friends all gone now and I'm just alone in my room, just laboring endlessly."

The Los Angeles Unified School District recently delayed implementation of its student COVID vaccination mandate until July 1, 2023. When the district's inital deadline approached in 2021, 30,000 students remained unvaccinated and faced being barred from in-person learning. Though the school district backed off its deadline, Granada Hills Charter maintained its requirement.

In a statement, the school noted that 99% students eligible for the shots have been vaccinated. The school insisted the policy is in the "best interests" of students.

"Our board stands by the science that indicates that vaccination is the most effective and best tool available to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safest learning environment possible," according to the school. "Our commitment to safety is ever more important as COVID-19 cases are spiking again, and the prospect of outbreaks and new variants is significant."

According to the protesting parents, the school's policy will prevent 70 unvaccinated high school seniors from attending graduation ceremonies, including eight special-needs students.

"What Granada Hills charter high school has done to its graduating seniors is egregious and unconstitutional by both state and federal standards," Parisa Fishback, cofounder of a group called Moms on the Ground, said in a statement ahead of the rally. "We will hold them accountable in every way possible. For now, we march for the kids that they will not allow to walk."

City News Service contributed to this report.