LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will drop its outdoor mask mandate for students and staff on Tuesday, Feb. 22, a top official announced. “In alignment with the [Los Angeles] County Department of Public Health and with guidance from our medical director and health partners, outdoor masking will be optional for all individuals in Los Angeles Unified schools effective February 22, 2022,” new LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said in a Feb. 18 statement. Since schools have a day off for President’s Day on Monday, Feb. 21, the new rules won’t take effect until the next day—though Carvalho also noted in his statement that students participating in school athletic activities on Feb. 21 may also opt to play without a mask. This comes after LA County ended its mask mandate for outdoor mega-events and for outdoor K–12 schools and childcare centers on Feb. 16. Earlier this week, Carvalho indicated …