HOUSTON – Many Houston-area school districts are adjusting their mask requirements after Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday prohibiting government entities, such as public schools, from mandating masks.
As the school year is coming to an end, some districts announced plans to drop their mask requirement for students, teachers and staff. While others will make masks optional or have not announced changes.
Recommended Videos
Districts say they plan to continue to monitor COVID-19 trends, while conditions seem to be improving locally and nationally.
Here is a round-up of the mask policy for local school districts:
Alief ISD
Alief ISD continues to require masks and face coverings in all schools and district facilities.
Alvin ISD
Alvin ISD announced masks will be optional at facilities beginning June 1, according to a press release. Mask wearing will also be optional at outdoor activities effective May 12. This includes graduation ceremonies.
Cypress Fairbanks ISD
Cypress Fairbanks ISD requires masks for indoors and outdoors events for all with a few exceptions.
Fort Bend ISD
In keeping with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order today that prohibits governmental entities, including school districts, from mandating or requiring individuals to wear masks, Fort Bend ISD has adjusted its health and safety protocols.
Effective June 5, 2021 students, staff, parents and visitors will no longer be required to wear masks in schools and in District buildings. However, any individual may wear a mask if they choose to do so. Personal choices about mask-wearing is to be respected at all times by all staff, students, parents and visitors.
FBISD remains committed to making prudent decisions, no matter how difficult, to keep students, staff, parents and their families as safe as possible.
Friendswood ISD
Friendswood ISD will keep in place its mask guidelines through the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
Houston ISD
The Houston Independent School District is aware of Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order issued Tuesday prohibiting public schools from requiring students, staff and visitors to wear masks after June 4, 2021. Houston ISD intends to comply with Governor Abbott’s order and awaits further guidance from the Texas Education Agency.
Humble ISD
Humble ISD voted to make face coverings optional for all elementary school students. The policy was effective immediately.
Previously, masks were optional for students under 10 and required for students 10 and older.
In addition, the district made face coverings optional for participants at an outdoor event or activity. Outdoor events and activities include recess, outdoor PE, senior picnics and any other outdoor events or activities.
The district said every student, teacher, staff member and visitor are still required to wear a face mask when on school district property or at a district event wherever it is not feasible to maintain a distance of 6 feet from another person.
Huffman ISD
Huffman ISD requires face coverings for all students and staff.
Lamar CISD
Lamar CISD is planning to resume normal operations on June 1. This means all COVID-19 protocols will halt and case coverings will no longer be required, including all 2021 school-related activities such as summer school and summer athletic camps.
The district also plans to return to in-person teaching once the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close. In addition, the district doesn’t plan to provide virtual learning for the 2021-2022 school year.
Magnolia ISD
Magnolia ISD board of trustees voted to remove the mask mandate, effective April 1.
Montgomery ISD
Montgomery ISD voted to maintain the district’s mask-wearing protocols through the end of the 2020-21 school year, according to a press release. The district also plans to make mask optional on May 31.
Sheldon ISD
Sheldon ISD has not made any changes to its mask policy. All students, teachers and staff are required to wear a face covering.
Spring Branch ISD
Spring Branch ISD plans to drop its mask mandate for the 2021-2022 school year, according to a press release. The mask mandate remains in effect at all schools for the current school year.
Tomball ISD
Tomball ISD announced masks will be optional for all staff and students beginning on the last day of school, May 27. This option extends into summer school, summer athletic camps, and all school-related activities.
The district also plans to make masks optional for the 2021-22 school year.