Students Sound Off on Immigration

School officials cope as thousands protest proposed crackdown on illegal immigrants.

As waves of students staged walkouts and joined protests last week over proposed punitive changes to federal immigration law, school administrators sought a balance between allowing students to demonstrate peacefully and setting clear expectations that they should return to class soon.

Thousands of students nationwide marched in the streets or rallied in public parks, at state capitols, and in other locations. Some of the largest demonstrations were in California and Texas, but students have also rallied in Arizona, Nebraska, Virginia, and elsewhere across the country.

Some school leaders said the events were the largest and most quickly organized protests among precollegiate...