The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Massachusetts
- Level
- State
- Authority
- 603 CMR 27.08(1) (Student Learning Time regulations; 'exigent circumstances'); G.L. c. 69, ss. 1, 1B, 1G; G.L. c. 71, ss. 1, 4A
- Issued
- 2021-08-25 Aug. 25, 2021
- Effective
- 2021-08-25, immediately; 'until at least October 1, 2021' (read as 2021-08-25)
- End
- Extended after October 1, 2021 (extension instruments not verified here) (read as 2021-10-01)
- In force
- Aug. 25, 2021 to Oct. 1, 2021
- Quarters
- 2021 Q3
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Face-covering requirementSchools and child care
- Addressees
- all public schools incl. charter, vocational-technical schools and collaboratives; approved private special education schools
- students age 5 and above
- all staff
- visitors
- Functions reached
- IN in-person instruction under masking
- WF parents and school staff
- TR school transport (federal order)
- AC indoor athletics masked
- Collection
- Massachusetts MA
Operative words
At the special meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) on August 24, 2021, the Board voted to declare "exigent circumstances" pursuant to the Student Learning Time (SLT) regulations, 603 CMR 27.08 (1), and authorized the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education to require masks for public school students (age 5 and above) and staff in all grades through at least October 1, 2021.... Effective immediately, public school students (age 5 and above) and staff in all grades are required to wear masks indoors in schools, except as noted below.... As provided by the Student Learning Time regulations, each district must submit a plan confirming that their health and safety procedures are consistent with the mask requirement.... Submission of the survey response will be required no later than Friday, September 3, 2021. After October 1, 2021, if a school demonstrates a vaccination rate of 80% or more of students and staff in the school, then vaccinated individuals in that school would no longer be subject to the DESE mask requirement.
Enforcement
District plan submission under 603 CMR 27.08; local student discipline; 'By federal public health order, all students and staff are required to wear a mask on school buses'
Notes
DESE's August 20, 2021 release announced the Commissioner's request for authority and the Board's August 24 special meeting.