Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the federal government over mask and vaccine mandates for staff and volunteers at Head Start early childhood programs.
Head Start, a federal grant program providing free childcare and education services for low-income families aiming to get kids ready for school by 5 years of age, is overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It implemented a rule late November to require staff, contractors and volunteers to get their COVID-19 injection by Jan. 31, 2022 and require masking for everyone ages 2 and up. Staff can seek medical or religious exemptions but will be required to test weekly if so.
Given that children are at essentially zero risk of severe illness and that staff and teachers are in one of the safest workplaces due to the children’s limited ability to spread the illness to adults, such a mandate makes no sense. We have consulted with several Head Start teacher groups. Generally, they are women with families who care deeply for their students and understand the dangers of the injections. Many are concerned about fertility issues. Head Start facilities are unionized so employees have a grievance process. They may also file EEOC complaints along with federal lawsuits.
The Texas lawsuit is here.