IDEA Public Schools Will No Longer Require Masks Starting June 7

AUSTIN, TX — IDEA Public Schools in the Austin area will no longer require masks on its campuses starting June 7 in response to Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order.

On Tuesday, Abbott issued an Executive Order prohibiting governmental entities in Texas — including school districts — from requiring or mandating mask wearing.

Public schools are allowed to continue to follow current mask-wearing guidelines through June 4. After June 4, no student, teacher, parent, or other staff member or visitor can be required to wear a mask while on campus, the order states.

The governor's decision comes days after the CDC announced fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask or physically distance themselves outdoors or indoors in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

The school district announced Wednesday it will not require masks in response to the executive order, but will continue monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms with required temperature checks for staff, students and visitors and by continued enforcement of social distancing and hand-washing guidelines.

“We would like to take this time to encourage every member of the IDEA community who has yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to do so as soon as possible,” said JoAnn Gama, Co-Founder and CEO of IDEA Public Schools. “The vaccine is currently available to anyone 12 years or older and is the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

To expand access to the communities that have had limited opportunities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, IDEA will continue to host clinics for staff and students over the age of 12. The district has administered almost 5,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to date.

For more information, visit www.ideapublicschools.org.