PHOENIX — President Joe Biden has ordered his Education secretary to explore possible legal action against states that have blocked school mask mandates and other public health measures meant to protect students.
Biden's order takes aim at Republican governors in Florida, Texas and other states that have barred schools from mandating masks in the classroom. Arizona is among the six other states that have most recently received letters from Secretary Miguel Cardona regarding actions taken against mask mandates in schools.
.@USEdGov will use every tool we have to meet @POTUS’ call to protect the health and safety of students and educators. https://t.co/QE51TDHxEV
— Secretary Miguel Cardona (@SecCardona) August 18, 2021
Biden directed the Education Department to “assess all available tools” against those policies. In response, the Education Department raised the possibility of using its civil rights arm to push back.
The agency says state policies could amount to discrimination if they lead to unsafe conditions that prevent students from attending school.
From the country's top educator to Governor @dougducey: let our schools work with their communities to implement common-sense @CDCgov mitigation strategies, like universal masking.
— Kathy Hoffman (@Supt_Hoffman) August 18, 2021
Thank you, @SecCardona, for your leadership. I stand with you in support of our students. pic.twitter.com/482QHczY2A
