Biden orders Education Department to take action against governors who ban school mask mandates

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

President Biden ordered Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Wednesday to take action against governors who have banned universal masking in public schools, taking a tough stand against those who he said are trying to “block and intimidate” local schools officials. At a news conference, Biden said his administration would not “stand by” and allow governors to prevent local districts from “keeping students safe” with masking mandates for the new academic year as cases from the delta variant of the coronavirus are skyrocketing.

He did not name any specific governor, but Republican governors Ron DeSantis of Florida, Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona, are among those state leaders who have threatened to withhold funding from districts or take other action against those districts that defy them. In Florida, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth largest district in the country, on Wednesday passed a universal masking mandate — with only a medical opt-out — as did Hillsborough County Public Schools.

“I’m directing the secretary of education to take additional steps to protect our children,” Biden said. “This includes using all of his oversight authorities and legal action if appropriate against governors who are trying to block and intimidate local schools officials and educators.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said masking is one of the strongest tools that can be taken to protect the spread of the delta variant, which has caused a rise in pediatric coronavirus cases. The agency this summer, in a shift in guidance, recommended everyone over the age of 2 — even those who are vaccinated — wear masks inside school buildings.

But a handful of Republican governors and legislatures have banned mask mandates in schools. In letters to the governors of Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, Cardona said bans on school masking mandates are putting students at risk and “may infringe upon a school district’s authority to adopt policies to protect students and educators as they develop their safe return to in-person instruction plans required by federal law.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/08/18/biden-school-masks-covid/

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[dalton99a]

1. ZERO federal funding if they refuse to allow schools to protect the kids.

[SheltieLover]

2. Ty, Joe!!!!!

[monkeyman1]

3. THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE A MARK !

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. Biden says his administration will take on GOP governors blocking masks in schools

We need to sue the heck out Abbott and Deathsantis https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-require-nursing-homes-mandate-vaccinations-staff-or-lose-federal-n1277107?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma

N — President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced he was directing the Department of Education to use its legal authority against Republican governors who are attempting to block local school officials from requiring students to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid.

Speaking at the White House, Biden said that some politicians are attempting to turn public safety measures into "political disputes for their own political gain," and warned that they are "setting a dangerous tone."

Biden said he directed Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to wield his oversight authority and take legal action “if appropriate.”

"We're not going to sit by as governors try to block and intimidate educators protecting our children," Biden said.