"I don't want to advocate for a certain procedure or policy, specifically, but rather that we will commit to doing what public health experts in our country are telling us we should be doing to keep our children safe," a Knox County Schools parent said.
The districts require students and staff to wear masks without letting parents opt out, which the state says is in violation of an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis that restricts mask mandates in schools.
The Illinois board of education says it will reach out to districts to discuss the mandate requirement. Within 60 days of the conference, the districts on probation must submit a corrective plan to the regional superintendent of schools and state superintendent.
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote to the governors and state education chiefs of Florida and Texas, saying their moves against masks will threaten in-person instruction.
Continued use of masks and social distancing will pose unique communication challenges for children who are hard of hearing as they return to school over the next several weeks.
Governor Brown's office said the change is in line with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recently updated guidance and is based on the latest science.
