Florida Board of Education

It's giving school officials in Alachua and Broward counties 48 hours to reverse course on requiring parents to submit doctors’ notes to opt out of mask mandates or risk losing district funds.

A legal battle over Gov. Ron DeSantis’ attempts to prevent school mask mandates will go ahead next week after a circuit judge refused to dismiss the case Thursday.

Board members voted 6-1 to require that all students and staff wear masks on school grounds starting Monday. The mandate will be in place for 90 days and allows for limited medical exemptions.

Florida’s largest school district is joining Alachua and Broward in requiring students to wear face coverings. The moves go against an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis requiring such policies to be voluntary.

The largest school district in Florida will mandate masks for the school year that starts Monday, joining two others in defying Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The parents from across the state say the order violates the Florida Constitution, including a requirement for providing “safe” and “secure” public schools.

A few Florida school systems are defying the order and they’re challenging the governor’s policy in court.

The attorneys are urging a Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper to dismiss the case filed by parents from various parts of Florida that challenges Gov. Ron DeSantis' executive order.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran will “report his findings related to Alachua and Broward” during the emergency meeting and “sanctions would follow if they’re found to be in violation of the mask mandate ban.”

Leon and Alachua officials decided to require parents to submit doctors’ notes for children to be exempt, drawing objections from the education commissioner. Broward officials could be next after a Tuesday vote.

As districts navigate a requirement that parents be able to opt out of mandates for their children, the state is looking to target local school officials who don't comply with the restriction.

Most of the districts that decided to keep mask mandates in the wake of the governor's executive order are following rules put in place by the state's Department of Health and Board of Education.