kids in masks
Photo: Michael W. Bunch/Metro

A dispute between local school districts implementing masking requirements and Tennessee government officials escalated this week as President Joe Biden said he would “use all available tools” to help districts facing pushback from conservative state governments.

GOP Gov. Bill Lee on Monday signed an executive order giving parents the right to have their K-12 students opt out of local school mask rules, though some of those school districts and legal experts are questioning whether he had the power to do that.