VDOE Childcare Covid Guidance and Masks

[Anonymous]

I've been looking at the latest guidance from the Virginia Department of Education for childcare settings: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/cc/covid-19-docs/covid-guidelines-child-care-english.pdf

My question is about this bit near the end:
Programs that accepted federal relief funding should follow the updated CDC guidance to the extent practicable AND provide parents the right to opt children out of mask mandates.

This sounds pretty clear to me that if our program received federal relief funds, then they are now REQUIRED to allow parents to opt-out of masks. Am I wrong? Our preschool is still acting like it is perfectly within their rights to demand 100% mask use, and I know for a fact that we received loans that were then forgiven. Does anyone know if this guidance is actually enforceable?

[Anonymous]

The words “should” and “guidance” pretty clearly indicate they’re not requirements.

These sort of documents are not legally binding.

[Anonymous]

I read it the same as OP. The should is with respect to following CDC guidance to extent practicable, but they must also provide parents an "opt-out." An FYI that there is also updated VDH guidance: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/182/2020/07/COVID_19_Child-Care-Facility-Guidance.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read it the same as OP. The should is with respect to following CDC guidance to extent practicable, but they must also provide parents an "opt-out." An FYI that there is also updated VDH guidance: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/182/2020/07/COVID_19_Child-Care-Facility-Guidance.pdf

I don't see a must. Just a should.