We finally heard from Cecil County Public Schools so I thought I would put out an update to the “Mask Mandates in Maryland Schools: What we know up to this point“. View all past updates CLICK HERE
The Superintendent of Schools in Cecil County (Jeffrey A. Lawson, Ed.D.) provided an update via video yesterday. Here is a part of the video about requiring masks:
You can view the full announcement here: https://www.smore.com/e2uv9
Here is my updated list by jurisdiction
Requiring masks for students and staff:
- Allegany County
- Anne Arundel County
- Baltimore County
- Baltimore City
- Calvert County
- Caroline County
- Cecil County
- Charles County
- Frederick County
- Garrett County
- Harford County
- Howard County
- Kent County
- Montgomery County
- Prince George’s County
- Queens Anne’s County
- St. Mary’s County
- Talbot County
- Washington County
- Wicomico County
Requiring masks for unvaccinated students and staff
- Dorchester County
Encouraging the use of face masks by students and staff who are not vaccinated or no mask mandate:
- Carroll County
- Somerset County
- Worcester County
Of course this is the thing a great many people will be watching today:
Maryland State Board of Education Hosts Special Meeting Thursday, August 26th
Special In-Person Meeting Held at State Education Building for Discussion of Statewide School Masking Requirements
The Maryland State Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, August 26th at 3 p.m. at the Maryland State Department of Education, 200 W. Baltimore Street in the 7th floor State Board Room.
If a “Statewide School Masking Requirement” is announced…I will be interested to see if school systems and Board of Education members across the state talk about local control today or if they jump on board with the decision made at the state level. We saw many BOE members talk about the need for local control of decisions in the past and I will be on the look out today and over the next few days for statements from schools systems, BOE members or other elected officials. I have already come across one type statement from an elected official:
Things are still changing quickly and I will continue to watch out for further announcements or updates from other jurisdictions in Maryland. If you see updates you think I should know about always feel free to reach out and let me know ([email protected]).
Scott E
Sources:
- Scott E’s Blog: Howard County Public School System will require masks in school buildings for all students, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status
- WBAL: Face masks to be required in some Maryland schools in fall
- Fox 5 DC: School Mask Mandates: What you need to know in DC, Maryland and Virginia
- AACPS: https://www.aacps.org/2122update
- Calvert County Public Schools
- Carroll County: Carroll County Board of Education keeps masks optional for the start of the 2021-2022 school year for CCPS
- Harford, Kent Counties (CLICK HERE)
- Dorchester County “Unvaccinated students and staff to wear masks in all facilities” (Read More)
- Allegany County and Queens Anne’s County (CLICK HERE)
- Caroline County: https://www.carolineschools.org/ccps-blog/masks-now-required-in-caroline-schools/
- Talbot County: https://tcps.k12.md.us/
- Washington County: http://wcpsmd.com/news/2021-2022-school-year-faqs
- Wicomico County: https://www.wcboe.org/
- Somerset County: CLICK HERE
- Worchester County: http://worcesterk12.org/district_leadership/superintendent_of_schools/superintendent_messages/august_17__2021_-_RR2_released
- Garrett County: CLICK HERE
- Additional sources noted above in this article