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Fredericksburg City Public Schools to end mask mandate in March

Published  February 18, 2022 5:26pm EST
Fredericksburg
FOX 5 DC

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) has announced that students will no longer be required to wear masks in FCPS buildings beginning March 1. 

The school district released a statement Friday saying it "will continue to strongly encourage mask wearing as a key strategy" in its efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools and throughout the Fredericksburg City community. 

RELATED: Virginia Gov. Youngkin signs bill providing parental opt-out from school mask mandates

"Please know that in making this transition, we will focus on maintaining a positive and welcoming learning environment in which students feel comfortable wearing a mask if they choose to do so," the statement reads. "No student will be required to provide any reason and students will not suffer any consequence as a result of the parental decision."

Students will still need to wear masks on school buses and in Head Start programs; plus FCPS staff will continue to wear masks in buildings per Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) standards.