Lifting the Statewide School Mask Requirement

Mask Requirements Update

Beginning March 12, face masks will no longer be required in most settings, including K–12 schools and childcare facilities. (The statewide mask order will be lifted at 11:59 pm on March 11.)

• Until March 12, face masks will continue to be required for all students, staff, and visitors in all school buildings and on school buses.
• Public health modeling indicates that cases and hospitalizations from COVID-19 will continue decreasing over the coming weeks. By mid-March, they are expected to drop to rates similar to last summer.
• The decision to remove the statewide mask requirement was based on the best science and research available and our experience and preparation to continue combatting this virus.

Respecting Others’ Choices

• Students and staff will have the choice to wear a mask at school, with the expectation that others’ choices will be respected.
• One should not make assumptions regarding someone’s beliefs or health status, nor should they comment on them.
• Educators will discuss the change with students in a developmentally appropriate manner, including how to respect others’ personal choice.

 

Health and Safety Protocol Updates

• The Washington Department of Health is preparing updated guidance for K–12 schools, and they intend to release the guidance as soon as possible. Generally, guidance around masking, distancing, and other mitigation measures will become recommendations – instead of requirements – once the mask order lifts.
• Schools will be required to continue reporting COVID-19 cases and outbreaks, as with any other communicable disease.
• Schools must also continue to provide access to testing for staff and students who have been exposed or are showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
• Students or staff members who test positive for COVID-19 must remain at home and follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health isolation protocols.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was this change made?

Data show rates of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are declining rapidly in our state, and public health models show that, by mid-March, cases and hospitalizations are predicted to drop to levels we haven’t seen since last summer. Masks impact the learning environment, and with widespread access to vaccinations, our expansive school COVID-19 testing program, and rapidly declining cases and hospitalizations, it was time to rebalance the benefits and challenges of universal masking in schools.

Will schools continue testing students and staff who show symptoms of COVID-19?

Yes. This announcement has no impact on the COVID-19 testing program in our schools.

Does it make a difference if someone is vaccinated or not?

No. The statewide indoor mask requirements will be lifted for all students and staff on March 11, regardless of vaccination status. Masks may still be required for those who recently tested positive for COVID-19, were identified as a close contact for someone with COVID-19, or other reasons identified by the Department of Health or a local health officer.

Will the vaccination requirement for school employees change?

The Governor has not announced any intention of changing the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for school employees.

What responsibilities does a school district have if there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a school?

School districts are required by state law to report cases and outbreaks to their local health officer (this requirement was in law long before COVID-19).

What if I want my student to continue wearing a mask?

Barring a local requirement for masks, students and staff will continue to have the option to wear masks at school, with the expectation that those decisions will be respected. Those decisions should not be used to make assumptions about their personal beliefs or their health status and should not be commented on. School districts should not tolerate bullying of any kind to anyone who continues wearing masks.

What would cause a local health officer to start requiring masks in schools again?

Local health officers have always had the authority in state law to require health and safety mitigation measures in schools when the situation warrants it, and that will not change. Health officers will continue to monitor community case counts and hospitalizations, and they may add new mitigation measures for schools if they deem it necessary.

What happens if a school district stops requiring masks before March 12?

School districts are required to follow the law, and the law currently requires masks in schools. If school districts willfully violate state law, they face legal and financial risks.