FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth ISD includes 143 schools and roughly 84,000 students, all of whom beginning on Monday, Sept. 13 will be required to wear masks.


What You Need To Know

  • Forth Worth ISD's mask mandate is set to take effect on Monday, Sept. 13

  • Mandate stipulates that students, staff and visitors must wear facial coverings at all indoor district facilities 

  • Mandate comes after attorneys for the district filed an appeal that paused a temporary injunction

  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton this week vowed legal action against any school district that institutes a mask mandate

The district on Thursday announced a new directive will require all students, staff and visitors to wear masks at all indoor facilities. Those with a medical exemption will not have to do so.

Mask usage at outdoor facilities will be up to the individual.

Getting back to the mask mandate was a long road, the district explained in a news release announcing it.

“Board of Education trustees approved the resolution at a special board meeting on August 26, but implementation was halted by a temporary restraining order and subsequently a temporary injunction filed by four parents and granted by Tarrant County District Judge John Chupp. Attorneys representing the District filed an appeal to Second Court of Appeals. As a result of this action, the temporary injunction is paused and not enforceable against the District until further notice.

“Additionally, the Fort Worth ISD was granted a temporary injunction in Travis County that prohibits the governor from enforcing Executive Order GA-38, which prohibits governmental entities from mandating masks, against the District. The governor did not seek any injunction against the District in that lawsuit. Accordingly, at this time there are no court orders or executive orders that are prohibiting the District from implementing a mask requirement.”

Whether the new mandate will face legal challenges remains to be seen. Earlier this week Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned school districts with mask mandates in place that he will “see you in court.”

“3 districts rescinded mask-mandates: Trenton, Calvert, & Los Fresnos ISDs. In doing so, they’ll save taxpayer $$ in futile litigation & comply with TX law. More ISDs are still breaking the law. Lawsuits are coming against them THIS WEEK,” Paxton wrote. “Rescind now or see you in court!”