Austin ISD said it will keep its mask requirement in place at least through the end of the current school year following an announcement by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks under most circumstances.

"Since we have no way to verify vaccination statuses and, until this week, most of our students were not yet eligible to be vaccinated, Austin ISD will continue to require masking through the rest of the school year and with graduation ceremonies," the district said in a May 14 announcement.

The district already relaxed its outdoor mask policy earlier this week to allow students to remove masks while engaging in outdoor physical activities at a safe distance, and with the permission of a parent or guardian.

AISD said it would consider the CDC's guidance when assessing its health and safety policies for summer classes and the upcoming school year this fall.

Authorities at Austin Public Health have not yet made updates to local risk-based guidelines in regards to masking, but have said they are considering the CDC's guidance as well.