California rule bans K-12 students from campus if they refuse to wear masks

New state rules in California would require K-12 students to wear face masks inside classrooms and buildings or be banned from entering school.

Students refused entry to their campus for refusing to wear a mask would be offered another form of education, according to the regulations. The rule offers exceptions for students with special health needs or disabilities.

The Los Angeles Times noted that students who forget their masks should be given a face covering. Local school districts could adopt more rules in addition to the COVID-19 measures required by the state.

California’s new regulations follow federal guidelines released last week that allow states to set guidelines for returning school districts in the fall amid the persistent COVID-19 pandemic.

While California takes a strict approach, the federal recommendation allows states to let vaccinated students return to campus without a mask.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that even unvaccinated students and staff do not need to wear masks outside during the gym or recess, but are encouraged to do so in overcrowded outdoor environments if unvaccinated and high levels of virus transmission.

Many regions have relaxed mask mandates in recent months as vaccinations for COVID-19 have increased. But the spread of the highly contagious delta variant worries some about the vaccination rate as well as the need for measures such as masks and social distancing.