Poll: 79% of K-12 parents approve of in-person school during the pandemic

NBC2 | by Katherine Hamilton | March 11, 2021

At least 79% of K-12 parents support in-person learning in the United States during the pandemic, according to Gallup poll analysis released Thursday.

Those majority numbers contrast with reports that an estimated one in three K-12 students in the US don’t have any options for in-person schooling.

Many parents are frustrated with how the loss of in-person learning has affected their children’s academic progress, psychological health and social development, according to the study. Research shows that the school environment is critical for fostering academic motivation and social development, and many students rely on schools for mental health care, the American Psychological Association reported.

This map shows where schools are either open, completely closed or have no particular order in effect, with some students learning partially online.

Most people, regardless of political standing, support reopening schools. However, Republicans were strongly in favor of reopening at 94%, while only 62% of Democrats support it.

Most parents, whether employed or unemployed, also support reopening.

Education in Florida

Florida reopened schools five days a week starting on Nov. 30, 2020. Superintendent Richard Corcoran said public schools must also establish a supplemental intervention plan for students who fell behind during the pandemic.

SWFL schools saw a decline in grades during its short stint with at-home learning only.

Collier County Schools reported that 23% of students grades 3-12 had one or more failing grades in the first quarter of this school year. The previous school year, only 10% of these students had one or more F’s on their report card.

Charlotte County Schools saw a slight increase too, though they tallied the numbers differently than CCPS. According to school data, total failing grades on report cards climbed from 7% to 8% during the pandemic.

Lee County did not provide any data when asked.

CDC Advice

While Florida is one of the lucky few states with schools completely open, there are many students nationwide who haven’t set foot in a school in a year.

“Schools should be the last places closed and the first places opened,” the CDC director has said repeatedly.

Proponents of in-person school often bring up the scientific fact that children are way less likely than adults to have an extreme case of COVID-19.

According to Gallup, the CDC has not called for prioritizing the vaccination of teachers in order to hold in-person school. However, poll analysis noted that teachers’ unions around the country have insisted on being prioritized.

President Biden has been encouraging the reopening of schools by telling local leaders to allow teachers to be vaccinated. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently ruled to allow teachers, law enforcement and firefighters aged 50 and older on March 3.