Virginia governor says parents are "best positioned" to decide if their children wear masks in school

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order Wednesday allowing parents to opt their children out of locally imposed school mask requirements. The new law goes into effect on March 1, after Republicans and some Democrats agreed to pass the bill. 

"This bill, now into law, reflects ... the fact that parents are ... best positioned to make these decisions for their kids. What we said yesterday is that if parents want their children to wear a mask, then they should absolutely be able to do so. And if they think the best thing for their child is not to wear a mask, then they should be able to make that decision as well," he said Thursday on "CBS Mornings."  

Prior to the signing, school boards in the state were allowed to enforce mask mandates in schools within their districts. Four school boards had previously filed a complaint challenging the constitutionality of the order. But Youngkin said that in the last couple of years there seems to be a disconnect between parents and school boards.