Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to sign an executive order as early as today that will prohibit mask mandates in public schools.
In an interview on Fox News earlier this week, Kemp said he believes the time for mandates is over.
"[As] we go into the summer and look for schools to be back in the classroom in the fall, we're not going to have a mask mandate for our kids. Our teachers have had the ability to get vaccinated," Kemp said.
While he did not discuss specifics of the pending order, he said it would not prevent anyone from wearing a mask or other face covering at school.
"If parents want their kids to wear a mask or if teachers want to wear a mask if they haven't been vaccinated - or even if they have - they can certainly do that," Kemp said.
Already some school districts have spoken out against the prohibition on mask mandates. Officials with both Atlanta Public Schools and the Dekalb County School District told CBS 46 they do not believe the governor has the authority to override an individual school system from imposing masking requirements.
