U.S. Secretary Of Education Sends Letter To Gov. Stitt About Law Banning Masks In Schools

The Biden Administration says Oklahoma is putting in-person learning in jeopardy. The U.S. Secretary of Education sent out a letter to six states including Oklahoma on Wednesday.

The White House said Senate Bill 658 may violate individual student rights and a district's ability to protect its students and staff.

In a letter to the Governor and State Superintendent, U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, criticized the law, which prevents schools in Oklahoma from implementing mask mandates.

The letter says in part, "This State-level action against science-based strategies for preventing the spread of COVID-19 appears to restrict the development of local health and safety policies."

Cardona said the law may also violate the American Rescue Plan, which gave more than $120 billion to schools to help them return to the classroom and required those schools to come up with a plan for a safe return to in-person learning.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden said his administration is prepared to take possible legal action against governors who try to prevent schools from mandating masks.

News On 6 reached out to Governor Stitt's office for comment but have not yet heard back.

Click Here to read Secretary of Education Cardona's letter in full.