I'm part of a group here in GA that regularly sends letters and emails to our representatives. Apparantly our representatives here in Ga got our message. I encourage everybody who has issues with the way things are being run in your states to get involved. Send emails and letters. Make some noise. Let them know how you feel.
Masks/Vaccines - What you need to know for the 2022 school year.
Masks and Vaccines - What You Need to Know for the 2022 School Year
Georgia Coalition for Vaccine Choice
Masks and Vaccines - What You Need to Know for the 2022 School Year
July 18, 2022 by Nicole Johnson
As the 2022-23 school year approaches, it is important for parents to know their rights regarding masks and vaccines here in Georgia.
Masks are a parent's choice in public schools.
This past session, our lawmakers passed SB 514, which allows parents to decide whether their minor children will wear a mask on school property at public and state-chartered schools. The legislation has three key parts:
It requires all schools to allow parents to exempt out of any school mask requirement, stating "that no local board of education, local school superintendent, or school administrator, teacher, or other school personnel shall make or enforce any rule that requires a student to wear a face mask or face covering while present on school property unless such rule provides that a parent or guardian of such student may elect for his or her child to be exempt from such rule."
It provides that parents do not need to provide any reason for this exemption, stating "a parent or guardian making such election shall not be required to provide a reason or any certification of the child's health or education status".
It indicates that schools and teachers may not punish any child for opting not to wear a mask, specifically stating that "no student shall suffer any adverse disciplinary or academic consequences as a result of such election."
Please note that as of now, this legislation has a sunset clause of June 30, 2027 and will terminate on that date unless extended by legislative action.
Covid19 vaccines are not required to attend any public schools or public universities.
This past session, our lawmakers also passed SB 345 which prohibits any public school or state agency from requiring proof of Covid vaccination. The bill states:
No agency shall require proof of COVID-19 vaccination of any person as a condition of providing any service or access to any facility, issuing any license, permit, or other type of authorization, or performing any duty of such agency.
No agency, through any rule, regulation, ordinance, resolution, or other action shall require that any person or private entity require proof of COVID-19 vaccination of any person as a condition of providing any service or access to any facility, or as a condition of such person or private entity's performance of any regular activity by such person or private entity.
This bill applies to all state agencies, which includes public schools, school boards, state-chartered schools, as well as all colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia.
This legislation has a sunset clause or expiration date of June 30, 2023, unless extended by legislative action.
In addition, it is important to remember that NO vaccines are required to attend any public school in Georgia where the student has a religious or medical exemption from vaccination. No shots, no school is NOT TRUE. Please visit the Georgia Coalition for Vaccine Choice website for more information on vaccine exemptions.