Virginia Supreme Court dismisses parents' challenge to Gov. Youngkin's order to end masks in schools

The Virginia Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a challenge to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order to stop public schools in the commonwealth from requiring students to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The ruling follows a judge in Virginia’s Arlington County ruling days earlier that the GOP governor did not have authority to supersede local school boards in setting policy, according to CitizensFreePress.com.

However, the ruling in the commonwealth’s highest court did not address the merits of the executive order, only the legal method that a group of 13 parents chose to challenge the governor’s order.

“We are pleased by the dismissal,” Youngkin tweeted. “We will continue to protect the rights of parents to make decisions regarding their child’s health, education, upbringing, and care.”