Portland Public Schools: Update On Indoor Face Coverings At PPS

Press release from Portland Public Schools:

February 25, 2022

Good afternoon PPS community,

In early February, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced upcoming changes to state-wide indoor face covering rules, with the indoor mask mandate lifting by March 31, 2022. Yesterday, February 24, ODE and OHA announced they would lift mask requirements for indoor public spaces and Oregon’s schools on March 19, 2022. The current statewide indoor school mask requirement is still in effect; masks are required on our school and district campuses. 

Portland Public Schools is in the process of reviewing and evaluating the latest guidance with an expectation that more specific updates will be made to Oregon’s “Ready Schools, Safe Learners” Resiliency Framework. We also received the new CDC framework this afternoon, which outlines metrics and criteria for relaxing indoor mask requirements. 

We’re working in partnership with Multnomah County Public Health (MCPH) and Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) to review these state and national guidelines and what they mean for our local community. We anticipate that Multnomah County Public Health will be issuing recommendations and/or requirements related to indoor masking in schools soon. We hope to share an update next week with our staff and families.

Thank you,

Jonathan GarciaChief of StaffPortland Public Schools

This press release was produced by Portland Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.