Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday overruled a Montgomery County order that prohibits private schools from opening amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Hogan’s mandate overturned a decision by county officials to keep both private and public schools closed at the start of the 2020-21 academic year, noting that pending safety concerns, private schools should have the authority to determine whether and how to open buildings for classes.
“Private and parochial schools deserve the same opportunity and flexibility to make reopening decisions based on public health guidelines,” Hogan said in a statement. “The blanket closure mandate imposed by Montgomery County was overly broad and inconsistent with the powers intended to be delegated to the county health officer.”
