States Blocking School Mask Mandates Could Face Civil Rights Probes, Official Says

[babylonsister]

https://www.npr.org/sections/back-to-school-live-updates/2021/08/23/1030277164/states-blocking-school-mask-mandates-could-face-civil-rights-probes-official-say

NPR
Back To School: Live Updates
States Blocking School Mask Mandates Could Face Civil Rights Probes, Official Says
August 23, 202111:02 AM ET
Deepa Shivaram


The Department of Education is preparing its Office of Civil Rights to investigate school districts that have blocked school mask mandates and other efforts to try to keep students and educators safe from COVID-19.

Republican-led states like Florida and Texas have imposed rules that say school districts can't impose mask mandates; the Department of Education argues that this could lead to discrimination against some students who cannot attend school because it becomes unsafe for their health.

"We are prepared to launch investigations with our Office for Civil Rights to ensure that all students have access to this fundamental right of education ... We're going to use our Office for Civil Rights to investigate any claims that come forward to make sure that students' rights are kept," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.

The news of possible investigations also comes as Republican leaders in Florida recently announced they would start withholding pay for superintendents who didn't reverse their current mask mandate policy.

"We stand ready to assist any district facing repercussions for imposing CDC-recommended COVID-19 prevention strategies that will protect the health and safety of students, educators, and staff," Cardona said in a statement.

[2naSalit]

1. Good!

[ScratchCat]

2. I was telling people over the weekend

That a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit based upon the ADA would be fairly simple and would at least get heard by a trial court. Some Florida parents have already filed suit based upon ADA, but I think DOE and DOJ can easily step in here.

[crickets]

3. Somebody at the federal level needs to step in.

Children are being needlessly exposed, taking the virus to infect their families, and it goes on from there. It's ridiculous that the anti-masking issue has been allowed to go this far. Just because tfg refused to set up and support a coherent national push on masking does not mean we have to continue that way.