As the new school year approaches, districts in Florida and Texas are grappling with how to safeguard unvaccinated students amidst rising COVID-19 cases. These challenges arise from state-level bans on mask mandates imposed by governors in both states.
With the return to in-person classes coinciding with a nationwide spike in COVID-19 infections, protecting children under 12—who are currently ineligible for vaccination—remains a significant concern for educators, parents, and caregivers. Despite strong recommendations from health authorities like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advocating for universal mask-wearing among students, eight of the largest districts in the U.S. find themselves restricted due to state laws.
Among the top 20 school districts in the nation, eight—Miami-Dade, Duval, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, and Palm Beach in Florida, along with Dallas and Houston in Texas—are unable to implement mask requirements. This is a direct result of bans enacted by Republican governors Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott, which leaves hundreds of thousands of unvaccinated students vulnerable as they head back to school. Florida currently leads the country in COVID-19 cases, while Texas ranks third, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Conversely, many of the remaining 12 largest districts are adapting their mask policies in response to the current rise in cases, driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant. For instance, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia’s largest district, recently mandated masks for all students, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. The district emphasized that this decision reflects the current health situation and the inability of children under 12 to receive the vaccine.
The three largest school districts in the U.S.—New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago—are also requiring masks in schools, along with Clark County Public Schools in Nevada and various districts in Philadelphia, Fairfax County, Virginia, Hawaii, Prince George’s County, Maryland, San Diego, Shelby County, Tennessee, and DeKalb County, Georgia. It is crucial for all school districts to adopt similar measures to ensure the safety of unvaccinated students and those not yet fully vaccinated.
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In summary, eight of the largest school districts in Florida and Texas are unable to enforce mask mandates due to state-level bans, leaving many unvaccinated students at risk as schools prepare to reopen. While some districts are tightening their mask policies in response to rising COVID-19 cases, the need for protective measures for younger students is more pressing than ever.
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