School Mask Mandate Extended Into January

MALDEN, MA — The mask mandate for all K-12 public schools in Massachusetts will be extended through at least Jan. 15, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said Tuesday.

State education officials said the extension is to allow more time for younger students to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines for children ages 5-11 are expected in Massachusetts as early as next week.

"Massachusetts is a national leader in vaccination rates for adults and eligible children, and in anticipation of the vaccine becoming available in the coming weeks for children ages 5 to 11 years old, this extension of the mask requirement will allow time for the elementary school population to receive the COVID-19 vaccine," Education Secretary James Peyser said in a statement. "This will be another big step forward in our efforts to keep school safe for our kids."

Officials will continue to evaluate criteria that could be used to lift the mask requirement based on public health data.

Though the extension has been put in place, there is still the option to lift the mask requirement if schools can prove at least 80% of all students and staff are vaccinated after submitting documentation to DESE.

Last week Hopkinton High became the first school in the state to vote to lift the mask mandate for a trial period.

The following mask requirements will remain in effect:

• Public school students ages 5 and older in all grades and staff are required to wear masks indoors in schools, except when eating, drinking or during mask breaks.
• All visitors are also expected to wear a mask in school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
• Masks are not required outdoors.
• It is strongly recommended that students younger than 5 also wear a mask in school.
• Students and staff who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, and students who cannot wear a mask for behavioral reasons are exempted from this requirement.

The mask mandate came continued all districts were required to provide in-person learning to all students this school year.

This progress has also been made possible thanks to school communities working together to participate in the state's COVID-19 testing program, combined with high vaccination rates among eligible populations.