Five GOP governors face civil rights inquiries over bans on mask mandates

The Education Department  announced Monday that it is investigating five Republican-led states blocking local school districts from requiring masks to protect against the coronavirus , claiming the policies discriminate against students with health conditions and disabilities.

The DOE's Office for Civil Rights sent letters to education chiefs in Iowa , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Tennessee , and Utah.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the department has heard from parents across the country about how state bans on universal indoor masking are "putting their children at risk and preventing them from accessing in-person learning equally."

“It’s simply unacceptable that state leaders are putting politics over...