- RHS Enrollment & Verification
- Homepage
Mask and Face Covering Opt-Out Information
UPDATED: May 13, 2021 - School Board updates Policy ADD to allow students and staff a choice to opt-out of face coverings and mask requirement.
Hello Rock Hill Schools Parents,
Per Governor McMaster’s Executive Order 2021-23, DHEC has provided the district with an official form allowing parents/guardians, on behalf of their student, to opt-out of wearing face coverings in school buildings and facilities. Effective immediately any student with a completed DHEC form on file will be exempt from wearing face coverings in school buildings and facilities. Under federal law, this exemption does not apply to bus transportation and therefore face coverings will continue to be required on all school buses.
A downloadable version of the form is available here (English or Spanish) or you may complete an online version of the form on the district website. Parents or guardians should submit the completed DHEC form on their student’s behalf to the school administration. Hand-written notes or personal letters requesting an opt-out will not be honored. Students are expected to wear a face covering, per District Policy ADD, unless the DHEC opt-out form is submitted.
DHEC and the CDC still recommend the use of face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19. Other mitigation factors including visitor restrictions, social distancing, barriers, contact tracing, and quarantine procedures will remain in place until further guidance is provided. As we move toward the end of the school year, we will continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19. With the absence of masks, it is reasonable to expect the number of students who are placed in quarantine or isolation to increase when a positive case is identified in a classroom, team, or cohort.
Thank you for your patience as we implement these new protocols and procedures.
Rock Hill Schools