MALDEN, Mass. (AP) — The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved a measure that gives state Education Commissioner Jeff Riley the authority to issue a universal mask mandate for the K-12 schools.
After Tuesday’s vote, Riley is expected to formally issue a mandate this week, and has previously said it would last through Oct. 1.
A mandate would mark a shift for the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker, which had previously left face covering decisions up to individual districts, and comes as the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to drive up case counts around the state.
