Florida Governor Threatens School Funding if Mask Mandates Remain
08/02/2021
The COVID-19 Delta variant is causing a rise in the total number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. As a result, last week the CDC last week issued new mask-related guidelines.
Late last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis began the process of instituting policies to allow parents, and not local governments, to determine whether students should wear masks in schools.
A July 30, 2021 Florida Executive Order (21-175) threatens the possibility that the Florida Commissioner of Education may withhold state funds from school boards requiring mask mandates.
State sources make up nearly 40% of Florida school funding, so there could be a severe negative credit impact if funding is withheld. We will continue to follow closely to see how this develops.