FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ROCKVILLE, MD (August 5, 2020) — The Maryland Public Policy Institute issued the following statement regarding Governor Larry Hogan’s order this week giving schools flexibility to determine whether to open this Fall in accordance with public health guidelines.

“Governor Larry Hogan this summer gave every public school system in Maryland the flexibility to determine whether and how to commence in-person schooling this year. Montgomery County’s brazen July 31^st edict stripping local private and parochial schools of that same flexibility and threatening imprisonment for any ‘violators’ was a case study in flagrant government overreach. Suggesting that educators are criminals for wanting to do their jobs is reprehensible.

“Private and parochial schools are perfectly capable of weighing public health data and guidelines to craft a plan that keeps students safe and engaged academically. Governor Hogan was right to issue an amended order this week ensuring that local schools are the primary authority to determine when to safely reopen their facilities based on public health guidelines.”

Background: Montgomery County issued an order July 31^st prohibiting private and parochial schools from opening for in-person instruction through October 1^st. The County also stated that any person who violated the order would be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for up to one year. Governor Larry Hogan issued an amended emergency order clarifying that local schools have primary authority to determine whether to open.

About the Maryland Public Policy Institute: Founded in 2001, the Maryland Public Policy Institute is a nonpartisan public policy research and education organization that focuses on state policy issues. The Institute’s mission is to formulate and promote public policies at all levels of government based on principles of free enterprise, limited government, and civil society.  Learn more at mdpolicy.org.