The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education authorized Riley to issue a mask mandate by a 9-1 vote Tuesday. After Oct. 1, middle and high schools can lift their mask mandates if they can demonstrate 80% of students and staff are vaccinated against COVID-19. The commissioner's policy applies to students age 5 and up and "strongly" recommends that younger students also wear masks. It exempts both students who cannot wear a mask for behavioral or medical reasons and staff who cannot wear masks for medical reasons. "Keeping students connected with school is especially important this fall, as students return to school after a challenging school year."

Source: MetroXpress August 25, 2021 21:33 UTC