BOSTON – The current statewide school mask mandate has been extended through at least Nov. 1, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley made the announcement on Monday, Sept. 27, citing “exigent circumstances” as a reason to extend the previous mandate of Oct. 1 to Nov. 1. The mandate will still require all Massachusetts public school staff and students to continue to wear masks indoors for another month.

The requirements and details of the mandate includes:

  • Public school students (age 5 and above) and staff in all grades are required to wear masks indoors, with exceptions for medical and behavioral needs. Masks are not required when outdoors. All visitors are also expected to wear a mask in school buildings.
  • The mask requirement will be in place until at least November 1, 2021. The Commissioner will revisit the requirement in the near future to revise it as warranted by public health data.
  • Masks should cover an individual’s nose and mouth. For more information about appropriate mask use, please see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/downloads/cloth-face-covering.pdf.
  • While not required, it is strongly recommended that students younger than age 5 also wear a mask in school.
  • Students and staff who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, and students who cannot wear a mask for behavioral reasons, are exempted from the requirement.
  • The mask requirement applies when students and staff are indoors at school, except when eating, drinking, or during mask breaks.
  • Masks are required for any sports-related activity for student-athletes and coaches when indoors, in alignment with guidance provided by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).
  • By federal public health order, all students and staff are required to wear a mask on school buses.
  • After October 15, 2021, if a school demonstrates a vaccination rate of 80 percent or more for students and staff in the school, then vaccinated individuals in that school would no longer be subject to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) mask requirement. DESE will provide additional information to districts in the coming weeks in preparation for the Oct. 15 date, including how to demonstrate the 80 percent vaccination rate threshold.