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California students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 who refuse to wear masks inside classrooms and buildings, as required by new state rules, will not be allowed to enter their campus, and another form of education will be provided to them, according to new regulations released by the state on Monday.
Exceptions will be made for students with special health needs or disabilities.
The state’s rules build on recommendations released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which provide flexibility for states and school districts. Under federal recommendations, for example, a school could allow vaccinated students to attend classes without a mask. California chooses to take a more stringent and uniform approach, which is also possible under the federal framework.
According to the most recently collected data, 99% of responding school districts said they would fully reopen for in-person instruction by fall 2021.
“It seems like a safe course to make sure every student can go back to school in the fall,” the state superintendent said. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who reviewed the health rules of the State. “I certainly see the logic of this.”
Masks could be particularly useful in schools where physical distancing is more difficult, he added.
“It makes it more tenable that everyone can come back and everyone can be safe,” Thurmond said. “So I see this as a common sense move to promote safety, but give everyone a chance to come back.”
“There is also the practical fact that there are students who cannot yet be vaccinated,” he said.
Only those 12 and over are currently eligible to be vaccinated. In addition, many students aged 12 and over, although eligible, were not vaccinated.
Here are the answers to some important questions arising from the state’s rules updated on Monday.
What guidelines must schools and parents follow – state or federal?
The state. For the CDC, the word “guidelines” refers to recommendations rather than mandates. State guidelines released on Monday include rules that schools and families must follow. And local health agencies and schools are allowed to adopt their own requirements that are more stringent than those required by the state.
What if my child forgets to bring a mask to school or loses their mask? What if his mask got too dirty or contaminated to wear?
The school must provide masks as needed. Bus drivers are also expected to have masks on hand.
My child has the right to a public education. What if I don’t want my child to wear a mask?
In this situation, a school will not allow a student on campus. The guidelines say, “Schools must exclude students from campus if they are not exempt from wearing a face covering under California Department of Public Health guidelines and refuse to wear one provided by the school.” . “
What about my child’s right to education?
According to state rules: “Schools should offer alternative educational opportunities to students excluded from campus because they will not be wearing face coverings. “
My child has a medical situation that prevents the mask from being worn. What will happen in this situation?
People who are exempt from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition should wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a sheet over the bottom edge, provided their condition allows it. Students with more severe limitations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Will students at their desks have to stay 3 feet apart?
This is not a state requirement, although schools and school systems may choose to have a distance requirement as part of a tiered security strategy.
Can schools limit students to less than a full day of in-person instruction in order to enforce physical distancing?
No. Students should have access to a full school day on campus – provided they are prepared to wear masks. When preferred physical distancing from a school is not possible, that school may rely on other safety measures, including disinfection, personal hygiene, adequate ventilation, screening for symptoms of illness and formal coronavirus testing.
If one person in a family is exposed to the coronavirus, is an entire classroom or school closed?
The state and the CDC want to limit disruption and have updated rules to limit when and how long students must remain in quarantine.
For example, when an infected student and an unvaccinated close contact both wear masks, the contact may continue to attend school if that student is asymptomatic, continues to mask himself, and is tested at least twice a week for a period of 10 days.
Close contact would be one person exposed to an infected masked individual for more than 15 minutes in a 24 hour period indoors within 6 feet.
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