Schools To Decide On Mask Requirements In New Year, Governor Says

November 8, 2021

A Neshaminy student in a mask earlier this year.
Credit: Neshaminy School District

School districts will have more room to decide on mask mandates starting on January 17, 2022.

Gov. Tom Wolf made the announcement Monday afternoon. It follows a late summer order from the acting state health secretary, who is part of the executive branch, that implemented a mask mandate at schools in the state.

“During the announcement, my administration made clear that we would continue to reevaluate the status of the school mask mandate. Now, we are in a different place than we were in September, and it is time to prepare for a transition back to a more normal setting,” Wolf said in a statement.

The move was announced a week after all-school age kids were eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

“Upon the expiration of the statewide mandate, local school officials will again be able to implement mitigation efforts at the local level. At that time, schools may continue requiring mask-wearing based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance,” a statement from the governor’s office said.

The implementation of COVID-19 safety requirements for classrooms by school boards and state officials has led to groups of parents that have flooding public comment sessions at meetings in recent months. Many Republican candidates for school board ran on the platform of making masks optional or not requiring them at all.

There have been challenges to the health secretary’s order, but none have prevailed as of Monday.

Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam speaking in July.
Credit: PA Internet News Service

Acting Pennsylvania Health Secretary Alison Beam said masks work and have helped keep students in schools amid the pandemic.

“While we continue to monitor data such as pediatric hospital capacity and case counts, we want to give local leaders plenty of time to prepare for the anticipated expiration of the order. We strongly encourage schools to follow CDC guidance and make decisions with the health of their educators and students in mind. Likewise, we strongly encourage parents to talk to their children’s pediatricians and get their child vaccinated. Vaccinations give your child the power to safely learn, play and be a kid,” she said.

The end of the order for schools will not impact mask requirements for early learning programs and child care centers “until further notification,” the governor’s office said.

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