The governor issued an emergency order reversing the October 1 mandate, saying in a statement the decision on whether private schools in the county could reopen in-person is up to individual schools and parents.
"The blanket closure mandate imposed by Montgomery County was overly broad and inconsistent with the powers intended to be delegated to the county health officer," said Hogan, who added all Maryland schools should follow guidelines from the state and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop safe plans for how and when to return to school.