Cooper Signs Bill Requiring Monthly Review Of School Face Mask Policies

Governor Roy Cooper has signed a bill requiring that school boards vote monthly on face mask policies.

The provision is part of a wide-ranging coronavirus bill focusing on K-12 school policies.

The legislation states that each public school unit must adopt a policy this school year on the use of face coverings by students and employees and vote at least monthly on whether to modify it.   

Cooper and state health officials have already strongly encouraged local school districts to approve indoor face mask mandates this fall. An overwhelming majority of the state's 115 districts have approved such measures.

The bill also allows both public and charter schools to switch to remote learning due to COVID-19 conditions.

Other sections of the legislation address the waiver of CPR instruction as a graduation requirement if COVID prevented instruction and restore some driving rights for teenagers.

A compromise version of the legislation received near-unanimous support, and Cooper signed the bill without comment.