NJ Students Can Opt Out Of Masking Under New Bill

NEW JERSEY - One New Jersey lawmaker is poised to introduce a new bill that will allow parents to send their children to another school district if their current district adopts an unfavorable mask policy for students.

Sen. Michael Testa (R-Cape May), says that the bill would see parents create an educational savings account, which could be used to allow children to attend a school in a district that does not mandate face masks.

“Sadly, we expected school bureaucrats to once again push their power over students and their parents with renewed masking mandates,” said Testa. “This bill gives parents the ability to fight back and the power to ensure their children are not forced to mask up.”

“Masks don’t seem to affect medical outcomes and serve only to make some adults feel they are doing something to protect students. Kids shouldn’t suffer to make adults feel better. My bill restores parental control to local education,” Testa continued.

Schools in Metuchen, West Orange, Franklin Township, Montclair and others recently announced the return of indoor masking policies due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the state. Read more: Masks Back In NJ Schools, But No Mandate Yet As COVID Cases Rise

As of Tuesday, the rate of transmission of COVID-19 in New Jersey is 1.25, meaning that for every new case, roughly one other is reported.

Over 2,400 COVID-19 cases were also reported in the state on Monday, with an additional 527 new probable cases. That’s about a 1.5 percent increase in cases from one week ago and a 4.8 percent increase in cases from one month ago.