DeSantis Signs Executive Order Prohibiting FL Schools From Enforcing Mask Mandate
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Friday that prohibits schools in the state from requiring students to wear face masks when they return to classrooms in the fall. The order states that school districts should not "violate Floridians' constitutional freedoms" and should "protect children with disabilities or health conditions who would be harmed by certain protocols such as face masking requirements." DeSantis' ruling comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Tuesday that all K-12 students should wear masks when they return to school. While the Florida governor called the CDC's new guidelines "a huge mistake," he also noted that students whose parents want them to wear masks should be able to do so.
Left-rated outlets were more likely to list statistics related to the rise of COVID-19 cases with the new Delta variant spreading across the country and how Florida's vaccination rate has fallen behind other states. Right-rated outlets used terminology such as "forcing" students to wear masks and were more likely to mention the Brown University study that showed no correlation between school mask mandates and surges in COVID-19 cases. Center-rated outlets were more likely to feature a balanced mix of perspectives, pulling quotes from both DeSantis and the CDC.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill that would strip schools of funding for imposing a mask mandate for students![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed an executive order Friday that prohibits schools in the state from requiring students to wear face masks when they return to classrooms in the fall.
The executive order, released Friday, is "effective immediately" and directs the Florida Departments of Health and Education to release emergency rules that stipulate that decisions over whether students will be masked in classrooms will be left up to parents rather than school officials.
According to the order, schools that do not comply with the directives from the Education and...
From the Left
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says parents should decide if their children wear masks to school![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/210730-school-mask-mandate-al-1056.jpg?itok=c6MY-Y6W)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday barred local school districts from requiring students to wear masks even as the nation fights a resurgence of coronavirus.
The Sunshine State's chief executive said he disagreed with guidelines issued Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends that all students in kindergarten through 12th grade wear coverings when they return to classrooms this fall.
DeSantis signed an executive order Friday prohibiting school districts in his state from having a choice to set such a mandate.
“The federal government has no right to tell parents that in...
From the Right
DeSantis to prohibit schools from forcing children to mask up![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-right.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/----1--15.png?itok=nPvW89Ap)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Friday that he is intends to sign an executive order that will prevent Florida schools from requiring students to mask.
DeSantis, who is a consistently vocal opponent of mask mandates, made the announcement from Cape Coral restaurant Two Meatballs in the Kitchen.
"I want to empower parents to make the best decisions they can for the well being of their children," DeSantis said, referring to the fact that he plans to leave the decision on whether children should wear masks or not up to...
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