LAUSD lifts indoor mask mandate for students, teachers

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Unified School District has lifted its indoor mask mandate.

"Suffice it to say at this point, that based on improved conditions in our community and certainly in our school system as a result of the proactive measures adopted by this board, have led to conditions that have allowed for the significant relaxation of existing protocols," LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told the Board of Education on Tuesday.

"We continue to be guided by science and we are where we are today because of the early adoption of the measures."

The LAUSD had maintained its indoor mask mandate even after the state and county lifted its requirements on March 12. The district's labor agreement with the United Teachers Los Angeles teachers' union included a clause that required mask wearing indoors through the end of the school year.

LAUSD said it reached an agreement with labor groups to align with the state and LA County's health guidance to make masking strongly recommended, but not required for classrooms.

The rule applies to both students and school staff.

Below is a statement released by LASUD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho:

Prior to Friday's announcement, LAUSD was one of the few school districts across the country that have yet to allow students and teachers to go maskless in classrooms. Earlier in the month, California joined Washington state and Oregon in dropping the mask mandate on a state level.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LAUSD keeps masks while state drops classroom mask mandate 

Other districts throughout Los Angeles County, including Beverly Hills Unified School District, Pasadena Unified School District and Burbank Unified School District, had already ditched the masks. 

Friday's announcement comes almost a month after LAUSD had lifted its outdoor mask mandate for students and staff.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LAUSD lifts outdoor mask mandate for students and staff

CNS contributed to this report.

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