I think it's a bit more complicated than that.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s office said injuries involving e-bikes and e-motorcycles in Southern California had increased 430% over four years. The office has also pursued cases against parents accused of knowingly allowing children to operate electric motorcycles illegally.
I see these electric dirt bikes everywhere, kids usually aren't wearing helmets, and they're pretty reckless with them. These are "bikes" that do not conform to e-bike standards for riding on the road without licensing. Fun, yes, but an accident waiting to happen. I think the school overreached, and should allow ebikes that conform to legal requirements to ride them unlicensed, but they are fighting a legitimate problem. They should have police there ticketing and impounding the illegal bikes and let the parents sort it out. I'll bet many of the parents don't even know their kids are illegally riding what is effectively a motorcycle, and there is no insurance to cover their liability.