The Cobb County School District needs to add a requirement for students to wear masks at school to the dress code.

The general provisions of the Cobb County School Dress Code state that "All students shall be required to maintain the level of personal hygiene necessary to ensure a healthful school environment...".* 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that masks be worn "in areas of significant community-based transmission"**

Given that recent studies show that "...the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms,"** it's important for the safety of both students and teachers that masks are required to be worn in the classroom while also practicing physical distancing. 

In order to align with the basic tenets of the school dress code policy related to maintaining a healthful school environment, Cobb County Schools must amend the dress code to include wearing a mask per the recommendations from the CDC. 

Schools enforce dress code standards today that call for shoes, midriff coverings, undergarments, and sleeves. It's reasonable to include masks as part of those standards.

Please sign the petition and consider sharing with others so we can bring this issue to the attention of Cobb County Superintendent, Chris Ragsdale. 

You can reach the office of Chris Ragsdale by email at Chris.Ragsdale@cobbk12.org or by phone at 770-426-3453 to voice your opinion. 

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*http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/adminrules/j/JCDB-R.pdf
**https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html