FRANKFORT, Ky. (September 04, 2020) – On Friday, Senator Danny Carroll (R – Paducah), joined by Senate Education Committee Chairman, Senator Max Wise (R – Campbellsville), along with Senate Majority Leadership, delivered a letter to Governor Beshear, Lieutenant Governor Coleman, and the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), concerning face-covering requirements at school for special needs students.
It is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) understanding that face masks may be too challenging for some children. In light of this, Senator Carroll has requested that the Beshear administration, and their counterparts, take necessary steps to ensure all school and school personnel are aware of the need to provide alternative safety precautions and accommodations to special needs students.
The letter was prompted following testimony from a parent of a special needs child. The parent, also a constituent of Senator Carroll, explained that the school informed them that if the student cannot wear a mask throughout the day, then Non-Traditional Instruction would be the only option for their family.
The CDC says: wearing masks may not be possible in every situation or for some people. In some cases, wearing a mask may exacerbate a physical or mental health condition, lead to a medical emergency, or introduce significant safety concerns. Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to increase the feasibility of wearing a mask or reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading if it is not possible to wear one.
“Special needs students are kids who are most in need of the emotional, psychological, social, and educational benefits in-person education provides,” said Senator Carroll. “Districts have done a great job designing plans for our students. I trust that if they hear directly from the Governor and his administration with clarification on this issue, it can prevent other similar cases of unnecessary heartache for special needs children and their families.”
It is the hope of Senator Carroll, Chairman Wise, and Senate Majority Leadership that the administration will make this issue a top priority by communicating the flexibility offered to schools to accommodate special needs students.
A copy of the letter is below.
Sen.-Carrol-Letter-to-Governor-9.4.2020