(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — Some Phoenix-area school districts have decided to require face masks on campus amid rising cases of COVID-19 in defiance of the governor’s wishes.
Based on recent data about the rapid spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that even vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings in parts of the U.S. classified as having substantial or high transmission.
Several Arizona districts have decided to make the CDC guidance on face coverings their policy at the start of the new school year.
In June, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a ban on mask requirements in public schools as part of the state budget. The bill that includes the ban doesn’t go into effect until Sept. 29, but it contains a clause to make the mask provision retroactive to June 30.
While defending its mask mandate in court, the Phoenix Union High School District argued that the state law prohibiting the policy isn’t in effect yet. A judge has yet to rule on the issue.
Here’s an alphabetical list of the metro Phoenix school districts that are mandating face masks:
This list will be updated as more information becomes available.