The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday it was investigating five Republican-led states that had banned mask requirements in schools, saying the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to education chiefs in Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah. Those states have barred schools from requiring masks among all students and staff, a move the department says could prevent some students from safely attending school.
It marks a sharp escalation in the Biden administration’s battle with Republican states that say wearing masks should be a personal choice. President Biden last week asked Cardona to explore possible legal action, prompting the department to examine whether the policies could amount to civil rights violations.The state policies conflict with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends universal mask wearing for students and teachers in the classroom.
The department said it had not opened investigations in other states where mask bans had been overturned by courts or were not being enforced, including in Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Arizona. But the agency said it was “closely monitoring” those states and was prepared to take action if necessary.Some Republican-controlled states have enacted laws or issued orders prohibiting school districts from requiring masks.
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