What they’re saying: School districts that lose state funding for enacting local safety measures can pull from federal relief dollars, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a letter to DeSantis and Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran on Friday.

DeSantis’ attempts to bar schools from enforcing mask mandates is “deeply” concerning given recent spikes in cases, Cardona said. It “puts students and staff at risk.”

“The Department stands with these dedicated educators who are working to safely reopen schools and maintain safe in-person instruction,” Cardona wrote. Local school leaders should be able to determine their own rules based on their own assessments.

“We are eager to partner with [the Florida Department of Education] on any efforts to further our shared goals of protecting the health and safety of students and educators,” Cardona added, warning that his agency will work with school districts directly if need be.