Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Monday that public schools that impose mask mandates in defiance of state laws or executive orders can’t be denied federal funding, as the political battle over masking requirements in schools roils on.
“We have to do everything in our power to keep them safe,” Cardona said in the interview, adding that he had spoken to superintendents in several districts embroiled in the mask mandate controversy to “let them know that we have their back.”
“And yes, they can draw down on the funds that were promised to them so they can safely reopen schools,” he said.
Cardona’s remarks come as governors and lawmakers in at least eight states—Florida, Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Iowa, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah—have banned school districts from imposing mask mandates.
The Education Secretary replied: “They do have access to federal funds that they can draw down at any moment to make sure that schools are opening safely and that our students and staff have the confidence of returning to in-person learning. They do not have to get the green light from the governor to use these funds—they’re made available to them.”
He also said that the administration is prepared to probe states banning mask mandates through the Office for Civil Rights, a move President Joe Biden last week warned could be taken while urging Cardona “to take additional steps to protect our children.”
“This includes using his oversight authority and legal action, if appropriate, against governors trying to block and intimidate local school officials and educators,” Biden said at a White House briefing on Aug. 18. “We’re not going to sit by as governors try to block and intimidate educators protecting our children.”
DeSantis reacted to Biden’s comments in an appearance on Fox News.
“He is obsessed with having the government force kindergarteners to wear masks all day in school,” DeSantis said. “In Florida, we believe that that’s the parents’ decision. Joe Biden thinks the federal government should come and overrule the parents and force these young kids to wear these masks.”