Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order allowing parents to opt out of school mask mandates for their children.

The Governor says Executive Order 84 gives parents the ability to opt their child out of mask mandates enacted by school or health boards.

“While local decision-making is important, individual decision-making by a parent on issues regarding the health and well-being of their child is the most important,” Governor Lee said Monday. “No one cares about the health and well-being of a child more than a parent. I am signing an executive order today that allows parents to opt their children out of a school mask mandate if either a school board or health board enacts one over a district.”

In what Gov. Lee calls “a way forward,” districts will decide if they want to implement mask mandates but parents will have the choice whether or not they want to follow it. In a Monday news conference, Gov. Lee said it’s suspending authority in a limited way.

According to Gov. Lee, the Tennessee Department of Health advised him on the executive order.