Houston among Texas school districts set to defy governor's ban on mask mandates

The largest school district in Texas -- Houston ISD -- is among those poised to defy the governor's ban on school mask mandates.

The largest school district in Texas is among those poised to defy the governor's ban on school mask mandates as students prepare to head back to school this month amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. The Houston Independent School District board is set to vote on a mask mandate Thursday evening, though approval isn't required for the policy to go into effect, the district confirmed to ABC News. Superintendent Millard House expects the board to support his mandate, according to local reports, ahead of the first day of school on Aug. 23. The mandate -- which would require all students, staff and visitors to wear masks while in school and on district buses except while eating -- goes against Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order barring government entities in Texas, including school districts, from requiring the use of masks.