Topline
The majority of Florida adults support school mask mandates, despite a ban at the state level. They also don't support the state withholding funds from districts that require them, according to a Quinnipiac poll. A growing number of Florida school district have been flouting the state policy and imposing their own mask orders in recent days.
Baldwin Park Elementary School students wearing masks on August 10, Orlando, Florida. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Key Facts
Quinnipiac's August 17-21 poll among 997 adults in Florida found that 60% of respondents support the requirement for students, teachers, and staff to wear masks at school. 54% of respondents believe that schools should be allowed mandate masks, as they are currently prohibited by the state. 44% support the Florida government's position that parents should decide whether their children should wear masks. While 69% believe it is a bad idea for schools to withhold salaries of school leaders if they require masks, 25% support it. Only 20% of Republicans support mask orders being imposed on schools, but Floridians from both parties disagree with the funding cuts. 52% of Republicans disapprove, while 91% of Democrats agree. The majority of Floridians support vaccine mandates for teachers. 60% also support them. 68% support mandatory masks for teachers in schools. 59% support masks being required indoors.
Big Number
73%. This is the percentage of Floridians who believe that the spread of Covid-19 in Florida is a serious problem. 59% of Floridians say it's out of control, while 61% think it was preventable.
Important Background
Florida's order banning mask mandates in schoolsis one of nine state restrictions nationwide. It has become a major topic of controversy as a new schoolyear begins and the state faces a huge Covid-19 epidemic. The state board approved sanctioning the two districts that had imposed strict mask requirements last week. It also stated it would withhold funding equal to the salaries of school board members from any districts that did not follow the state's rules. Instead of following the state's lead, many more districts have followed its lead and mandated masks. Eight Florida school districts now require masks, up from two just a week earlier. This includes many of Florida's largest cities like Miami, Tampa and Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Sarasota, Tallahassee, and Sarasota.
What to Watch
Florida's school districts could be forced to implement mandates that violate state policy. Orange County, where Orlando is located, may see school officials under pressure to adopt their own mask requirements. Christina Pushaw, spokesperson of Gov., has warned that more punishments could be coming to new districts that have implemented mandates. In an email to Forbes, Ron DeSantis stated that new districts that have implemented mandates could face additional consequences. Christina Pushaw, spokesperson for Gov., also spoke out. A three-day hearing began Monday in one the many lawsuits against the state policy.
Tangent
DeSantis has opposed the imposing of Covid-19 restrictions, and downplayed how severe the state's outbreak was. He received slightly lower marks in the Quinnipiac survey for his leadership, with 46% saying that he is hindering efforts to slow the spread, compared to 41% who said he was helping them. However, the governor retains strong support from Republicans with 75% saying that he is helping, and only 12% saying that he is hindering efforts.
Continue reading
Quinnipiac University Poll: 6 in 10 Floridians Support Using Masks in Schools; 61% Say the Recent Rise In COVID-19 In Florida was Preventable (Quinnipiac University).
After two state sanctions, three more Florida school districts impose a mask mandate (Forbes).
Florida to Provide Funding for 2 School Districts that Have Imposed Mask Mandates. They Must Be Removed within 48 Hours (Forbes).
Florida School Board Sanctions School districts for Imposing Mask Mandates (Forbes).
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