Coronavirus

Federal Civil Rights Inquiries Over Bans On Mask Mandates

Federal officials say those bans could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions.

Federal Civil Rights Inquiries Over Bans On Mask Mandates
Rick Bowmer / AP
SMS

The U.S. Education Department is launching civil rights inquiries into five states with bans on mask mandates.

The department is investigating Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.

Federal officials say those bans could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions by preventing some students from safely attending school amid the ongoing COVID surge.