Following almost instant criticism of its 2021-2022 guidelines for K-12 schools on Monday, the California Department of Public Health announced there would an update to the rules overseeing public schools' health and safety. A mask mandate remains in place, however, gone is the rule barring unmasked students from campus.
In the original Monday guidelines for K-12 students at public schools, the California Department of Health stated, “Schools must exclude students from campus if they are not exempt from wearing a face covering under California Dept. of Public Health guidelines and refuse to wear one provided by the school."
In a sudden turnaround, the California Department of Public Health then tweeted at 7:25 p.m. on Monday that there would be a change to the guidance.
“California’s school guidance will be clarified regarding masking enforcement, recognizing local schools’ experience in keeping students and educators safe while ensuring schools fully reopen for in-person instruction,” according to the department’s tweet.
The LA Times reported that a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom's office confirmed Monday evening that the phrasing about excluding students would be changed.
Instead, local officials would have discretion about how to enforce the mask mandate, just as they had during the school year just concluded, said Alex Stack.
As of Tuesday, the guideline's only mention of excluding students is the stipulation that "schools should offer alternative educational opportunities for students who are excluded from campus because they will not wear a face covering."
The health department also recommends implementing local protocols that would "prevent unnecessary exclusions."
The state health department issued a statement last week requiring masks indoors in school settings after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear masks indoors.
Monday’s statement from the state health department mandates masks for both students and adults in K-12 school settings.
Exemptions will be made those with medical conditions or for pedagogical or developmental reasons, but those with exceptions must wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, the state said.
Parents are split over the guidance.
“The people who are against masks are not only against masks for older kids. There are some parents we’re hearing from who don’t want their younger kids wearing masks either,” said Jenny Hontz with Speak Up, a parent’s advocacy group in LA.
Even though, as Hontz noted, children under 12 are not eligible for the vaccine yet and are not protected.
Schools throughout the state were directed to develop a policy to offer face coverings to students who inadvertently fail to bring a face covering to school, as well as offer alternative educational opportunities for students who refuse to wear a face covering.
The CDC gave guidance that masks continue to be worn if social distancing of at least 3 feet cannot be achieved in schools that fully re-open.
In a statement, CPDH Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said California is keeping masks in place because accommodating social distancing recommendations remains a challenge.
“We will align with the CDC by implementing multiple layers of mitigation strategies, including continued masking and robust testing capacity,” Ghaly said. “Masking is a simple and effective intervention that does not interfere with offering full in-person instruction.”