The Texas State Supreme Court also ruled in favor of districts, for the time being, to enforce mask rules in schools.
The agency tasked with regulating schools in Texas issued new guidance on Thursday stating it will stop enforcing a ban on masking rules. The guidance is temporary, pending the resolution of litigation involving school districts that have attempted to require masking in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas), who issued an executive order banning such requirements. But the move by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) indicates that, for now, children’s safety will be prioritized. A number of school districts have challenged Abbott’s ban, as the governor tries to keep it intact through the courts. Some districts have pursued creative ways to circumvent the ban on masking rules, including the Paris Independent School District, which temporarily made masks part of the employee and student dress codes. The state Supreme Court also issued a temporary ruling, refusing to say that districts have to undo their masking rules until the lawsuits are resolved.
