Executive Order 2020-185: Amendment to the Provision of PreK-12 education for the 2020-2021 school year order

Executive Order 2020-185: Amendment to the Provision of PreK-12 education for the 2020-2021 school year order

EXECUTIVE ORDER

No. 2020-185

Amendment to the Provision of preK–12 education
for the 2020–2021 school year order

This order expands the requirement to wear a mask in the classroom to all students kindergarten and up. It is now crystal clear that COVID-19 can be deadly to younger children, and that children who become infected at school can pass the virus to their parents, leading to community spread. In the absence of a widespread vaccine, wearing a covering over the nose and mouth remains the most effective tool to combat the spread of COVID-19, both in schools and the wider community.

Given the higher incidence of cases among children in recent months, and the clear effectiveness of masking as a mitigation strategy, requiring the use of masks in the classroom even for younger students is a reasonable and necessary requirement in Regions at Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan.

Acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, I find it reasonable and necessary, for the reasons outlined above, to order the following amendments to the Provision of preK–12 education for the 2020–2021 school year order, Executive Order 2020-142:

  1. Section 2(b)(1)(D) is amended to provide: “All students in grades kindergarten and up when in classrooms.”
  2. Section 2(b)(1)(E) is rescinded.
  3. Subsection (e) is added to section 3 and provides: “School districts and nonpublic schools must publish information about any cases of a probable or confirmed COVID-19 positive individual present on school property or at a school function during the period of infection, in the manner prescribed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MDHHS is authorized to issue orders and directives to implement this section.”
  4. This order is effective October 5, 2020 at 12:01 am.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Michigan.