The last three school districts in Florida that required at least some students to wear masks are dropping their mandates for student facial coverings.
Starting Friday, grade school students in Miami-Dade schools can opt out of wearing a mask if they have their parents permission. Masks already had been optional for high school and some middle school students.
In neighboring Broward County, all students can go without masks starting the week after next. No opt-out form from parents is required, though the school district is strongly encouraging students to wear facial coverings. Masks already were optional for high school and technical college students.
In Alachua County, home to the University of Florida, masks will be optional provided parents have given their consent starting in early January when students return from winter break.
The three school districts were among eight Florida districts that had implemented mask mandates in defiance of the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The states health department imposed a rule ordering districts to allow the parents the choice of whether their children wear masks.
