No change to Pinellas County Schools Health Protocols

May 3, 2021

As we finish the 2020-21 school year, Pinellas County Schools remains committed to the health, wellness and academic needs of our students, families and staff. On Monday, May 3, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Orders 21-101 and 21-102 regarding local COVID-19 policies.

We received official clarification from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) that these Executive Orders DO NOT apply to school districts.  Specifically, the clarification from FDOE states that neither EO-21-101 nor EO-21-102 impact any school district’s policies for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Their complete guidance is copied below.

All Pinellas County Schools health and safety protocols remain in effect, including the district’s policy regarding face coverings.  

See guidance below from the Florida Department of Education:

Guidance on State of Florida’s Executive Orders 21-101 and 21-102:

Questions have arisen over the impacts of the Executive Orders EO-21-101, which is not effective until July 1, 2021, and EO-21-102, which is effective immediately.

To clarify, EO-21-102 only impacts city and county governments, and does NOT impact school districts and individual schools. Moreover, EO-21-101 and EO-21-102 only impacts restrictive COVID-19 orders/ordinances that are adopted through emergency enactment.

Neither EO-21-101 nor EO-21-102 impact any school district’s policies for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.

Please find below a press release with additional details; both Executive Orders are attached (and linked above.)

Thank you,

Alexis Calatayud
Legislative Affairs Director
Florida Department of Education