OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Just 61 of about 30,000 Oklahoma City public school students have opted out of a newly adopted mask requirement, a district spokeswoman said Wednesday, while Santa Fe South charter school reported no opt-outs among its approximately 3,600 students.
Both districts announced masking policies last week with opt-out options for reasons such as medical or religious restrictions.
Oklahoma City district spokesperson Crystal Raymond said district officials declined to speculate on why fewer than 1% of students have chosen to opt out as of the end of the day Tuesday.
“I don’t think we can speculate on the ‘why.’ That’s just how many have been submitted in two days,” Raymond said.
Santa Fe South Superintendent Chris Brewster said more parents may eventually choose to exempt their children from masking, but they currently see it as a good idea.
“I think strongly ... the vast majority think this (masking) is just one piece of mitigation to keep schools open” for in-person classes, Brewster said.
Brewster said one of the district’s approximately 350 staff members has opted out.
A state law approved earlier this year and signed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt bans school mask mandates, but Stitt commended both districts for the requirements, citing the opt-out provisions.