State Education Standard State Education Standard

NCOSEA Voice: Masks and the Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities


As students returned to in-person learning, including those with disabilities whose medical conditions put them at increased risk of illness or death from COVID, several schools and parents went to court to challenge prohibitions of mask mandates and public health orders that let students and staff opt out of mandates. Federal district courts in multiple states heard requests for injunctive relief and declaratory judgment. In most cases, plaintiffs claimed the actions violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 because they prevent these students from equal and meaningful access to public school facilities.


Masks and the Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities





Featured Items

i

Connecting Schools and Communities

Authors in this issue of the Standard suggest myriad ways in which communities can be force multipliers for ensuring that all children are engaged in learning and prepared to thrive as adults.
Image of a black man voting. Credit: Canva

State Education Elections in 2024 Yield Few Shifts

Voters in nine states, three territories, and the District of Columbia elected 64 state board candidates.
i

Developing Content Standards: A Foundational Task for State Boards

State boards of education typically play a central role in approving academic content standards, though their authority varies by state. This boardsmanship review outlines guiding principles and common processes to help state boards develop high-quality standards.

Upcoming Events

From the States