Bill Overview
Title: To prohibit the provision of Federal funds to a local educational agency that requires any student at the schools served by the agency to wear a face covering or be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Description: This bill prohibits a local educational agency (LEA) from receiving federal funds if the LEA requires students at public elementary and secondary schools under the jurisdiction of the LEA to wear face coverings or be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Sponsors: Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by U.S. public school COVID-19 mask or vaccine mandates
Estimated Size: 110000000
- This bill affects public elementary and secondary schools that fall under local educational agencies (LEAs).
- Students attending these schools will be impacted as the bill influences health safety policies they are subject to.
- Parents and families will be impacted, as their children will attend schools under these policies.
- Teachers and school staff will be impacted, given the changes in school health policy requirements.
- The legislative decision affects health policies in educational settings, influencing community health approaches.
- Broadly, the policy affects children who are in school age attending public schools.
Reasoning
- Considering the target population is around 110 million people, this includes students, parents, and school staff. We need a sample that reflects these groups.
- The budget limitations imply that significant impacts are concentrated or mitigated to remain within fiscal boundaries.
- Most affected individuals will be those in areas previously under mandates, which could reflect variance in wellbeing impacts.
Simulated Interviews
High School Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I prefer not wearing a mask, it's easier to breathe during gym.
- I'm worried about getting COVID-19 for my grandparents' sake.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
High School Principal (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about the liability and health risks without mandates.
- This policy might ease some tension among parents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
School Nurse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is worrying; it could increase my workload if outbreaks happen.
- I understand parents' desires for freedom, but safety is my priority.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Elementary School Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 10 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 19/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I liked not having to wear the mask, but miss seeing my friends' smiles.
- I get sick a lot; Mom says we need to be more careful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Public School Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about a lack of protective measures in crowded classrooms.
- This may reassure some parents, but I fear it could escalate tensions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 4 |
Parent (Rural Alabama)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We never really had to deal with masks here, so not much will change.
- I'm happy the kids won't have to deal with uncomfortable restrictions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Boston, MA)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy is reckless; it puts my grandchildren at risk.
- Masks have been a simple safety measure with benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
School District Policy Administrator (Seattle, WA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Losing funding is a big deal; we may need to cut some programs.
- Our hands are tied; we have to comply, but it feels risky.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
High School Student (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel safer wearing a mask, but I'm tired of the arguments at school.
- My parents are still worried about getting COVID-19.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Parent (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Relieved not to vaccinate kids yet, but worried about outbreaks.
- Trusts schools but fears policy may backfire on health safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $60000000)
Year 5: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $60000000)
Year 100: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- Compliance monitoring for the prohibition could incur administrative costs.
- Potential decrease in public health safety standard if mask and vaccine mandates are loosened could lead to indirect public health costs.
- Legal challenges might arise from LEAs or states regarding funding decisions based on these prohibitions.
- Effectiveness could vary widely regionally, depending on local COVID-19 transmission rates and other health measures in place.