Skip Navigation
We use cookies to offer you a better search experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
Press Release

AEA and Education Groups File Lawsuit Against Governor’s Mask Ban

The Arizona Education Association and a coalition of education organizations and supporters has filed a lawsuit against the state over the constitutionality of the ban on mask mandates in our public schools.
Published: August 13, 2021

When Governor Ducey signed the 200-page K-12 education budget it included new policy provisions for schools unrelated to the budget. These provisions included language prohibiting school districts from requiring face coverings and the COVID-19 vaccine for students and staff, and a teacher gag bill that prohibits teachers from discussing “controversial” topics in the classroom.

“Governor Ducey and the GOP legislative leadership are putting our children in harm’s way and our communities at risk,” says AEA President Joe Thomas. “Their actions are reckless and abusive. By tying the hands of our local school board leaders, lawmakers are preventing them from making decisions to keep our students safe.”

These laws are unconstitutional and the lawsuit lays out the coalition’s claims, including the violation of the single subject and title requirements for legislation and equal protection grounds as set forth in the Arizona Constitution.

“We know the majority of parents and our educators support our school leaders doing everything they can to keep our students and staff safe and healthy,” says Thomas. “We’re seeing more and more school districts taking steps to protect their students and communities. But they shouldn’t have to break the law to implement common sense protections for our students. We urge lawmakers to listen to their constituents and make the right decision to ensure our classrooms and campuses are safe so we can keep our students learning in our classrooms.”

AEA and its 20,000 members are committed to our mission of Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education. At the core of that promise is an unwavering commitment to the health and safety of our students and staff. We will advocate by all means necessary to deliver on that promise so that every student in the state has access to a quality public school. AEA is proud to stand alongside other public education champions in this effort.
 

Logo

Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education

With more than 20,000 members, the Arizona Education Association (AEA) is the labor union for public school employees in Arizona. AEA members are teachers, community college professors, counselors, speech pathologists, bus drivers, secretaries, retired educators and student teachers and they belong to more than 150 local affiliates across Arizona.