On Oct. 26, the School Board of Broward County voted 5-3 in favor of making masks optional for high schools. The new policy will take effect on Monday, Nov. 1. All high school students, teachers, employees and district staff working in district offices are no longer required to wear masks if they do not wish to do so. It is strongly encouraged by BCPS that everyone continues to wear their masks on their school campus.

If the COVID-19 positivity rate in Broward County reaches 5%, the mask mandate will be reinstated; the current positivity rate sits at 2.2%. Although not supported by the board, Interim Superintendent Vickie Cartwright suggested masks be optional for all students of BCPS as long as the positivity rate remains below 5%.

The mask mandate remains in place for all students, teachers and other employees in elementary and middle schools.