BATON ROUGE, La. — BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana education leaders are leaving decisions on mask mandates, physical distancing and other measures aimed at lessening COVID-19 spread to local public school districts for the upcoming year even as case numbers climb.
The Department of Education sent updated guidance to K-12 school systems that recommends but doesn’t mandate face coverings for all unvaccinated adults and students in grades 3 through 12 while inside school facilities.
It also offers suggestions for distancing of students and isolation for those who contract COVID-19 or were in close contact with others who get sick.
But the only mandate involves a federal requirement that passengers on school buses must wear a mask.
