350 Students Boycott Class to Protest ID Photo Fee

Upset over a new policy to charge $4 for photo identification cards needed for a host of school activities, about 350 students at Los Angeles High School boycotted classes in protest Monday.

“We’re not paying,” said Saladin Thomas, 14. “It’s not right.” He said students should not be charged for the identification cards because state law provides that public education is free.

Students were notified earlier this month that they would be required to pay the fee at Monday’s scheduled photo session for ID cards and the yearbook.

Instead of sitting for the pictures, many students responded to fliers urging the boycott. A spokesman for the Los Angeles Unified School District said no classes were canceled. The protesters returned to class later in the morning.

District police were present but “no disciplinary measures were taken,” said spokesman Shel Erlich. He said there was a miscommunication about whether taking the photo for the picture ID was optional or mandatory.

Erlich said charging $4 for the picture ID was the idea of a student leadership group consisting of students and school officials.

The group was trying to replenish the coffers of the student body reserve fund, Erlich said, and decided the sitting fee would be “the least painful way of doing it.”