May A Student Carry Sunscreen And Sun-Protection Items On A School Campus?
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 With the raging hot sun in California, sun exposure is a serious concern for many parents. Consequences from sunburns can be painful and potentially dangerous. Can public schools deny students the ability to carry sunscreen or other sun-protection gear on campus? Generally, no. The need for youth to be protected is so important that the California legislature took the time to write and pass a law which gives students the right to carry sunscreen and to wear sun-protective clothing on school campuses. Per California Education Code section 35183.5 : (a) (1) Each schoolsite shall allow for outdoor use during the schoolday, articles of sun-protective clothing, including, but not limited to, hats. (2) Each schoolsite may set a policy related to the type of sun-protective clothing, including, but not limited to, hats, that pupils will be allowed to use outdoors pursuant to paragraph (1). S...