Maryland officials vote to let local school districts make mask policy decisions

The Maryland state Board of Education voted Tuesday in favor of allowing local school districts to decide on their own mask policies, with the decision now needing to be approved by the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review.

As WBAL reported, Maryland schools Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury recommended that school mask policies be left to local school boards.

“Where we are it is the right time to bring it back to local control,” Choudhury said.

This decision by the board comes about a week after outgoing Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) called on the panel to lift its statewide mask policy, WBAL noted.

“We are making recommendations to the state Board of Education, which is also independent, you know, folks that represent the entire state, to say we think it’s time to take a look,” Hogan said.

In a letter to the board, he wrote, “In light of dramatic improvements to our health metrics and the widespread availability of vaccines, I am calling on you to take action to rescind this policy.”

Earlier this month, Hogan formally ended the requirement of face masks in state buildings, citing “health metrics continuing to substantially decline.”

Effective on Tuesday, masks and face coverings are no longer required to be worn in state buildings, though they are still strongly recommended for the unvaccinated.