Poll: Parents divided over focus on return to in-person instruction versus improving remote options
Majorities support vaccine requirements for teachers, staff, and students
A new poll by The MassINC Polling Group finds parents divided over whether schools should focus more on bringing kids back to the classroom or on improving remote learning. Views depend on how their children are currently learning. A majority (67%) of Massachusetts parents of children in hybrid school say schools should focus on boosting in-person numbers, while most parents of remote learners (56%) say the focus should be on improving remote instruction. Overall, a small majority (54%) think schools should focus on bringing more children back for in-person learning, while 40% say the focus should be on improving remote learning.
Most parents support requiring COVID vaccinations for teachers (71%), school staff / administrators (71%), and even for children returning to school (59%). When it comes to vaccinating children, 45% of parents say they will do so as soon as possible when an FDA approved vaccine is ready. White, Asian and higher-income parents are more likely to seek the vaccine sooner for their children, echoing choices these groups would make for themselves in other surveys. Another 36%, including many lower-income parents, say they will vaccinate their children after others have taken the vaccine. The poll was conducted before recent policy developments accelerating the return to in-person learning, and before the back-and-forth over the pace of teacher and staff vaccinations.
These results are drawn from a survey of 1,528 Massachusetts K-12 parents including oversamples of Black, Latino, and Asian parents conducted February 8 - March 2, 2021. It is the third wave of a year-long series of education surveys conducted by The MassINC Polling Group. It is sponsored by the Barr Foundation and produced in collaboration with the Education Trust. The poll will be released in an online forum on March 17 from 11 AM - Noon. Please register here.
Pandemic taking academic, mental, and emotional toll
Concerns over academic impacts have been a durable feature of MPG surveys during the pandemic. In this survey, 26% see their students as behind grade level, double the 13% who said the same before the pandemic. To make up the lost ground, 57% support summer school, including 73% of Black and 70% of Latino parents. Views are divided on starting the next school year earlier, and parents are more opposed to extending the school day next year.
Mental health is also a key concern, with 60% of parents saying they are very or somewhat concerned about their children’s mental health. Asked which is a greater concern, 34% of parents say mental health compared to 19% who say academic progress. The plurality (42%) say both are of equal concern. On another question, 55% say the school year has had a negative mental or emotional impact on their child while 50% say the same about their child’s academic learning. Most parents say the year has brought too much screen time for their children (60%) and not enough time outdoors (56%) and physical activity (50%).
Hybrid continues to be seen as worst of both worlds
The impacts have varied considerably depending on school format. This survey was the latest to show hybrid parents reacting more negatively to their children’s education experience than in-person and fully remote parents. In all, 46% of parents have children in hybrid schooling, 43% in remote schooling, and 12% in person. In this wave, more hybrid parents report having a hard time balancing work and childcare, and managing school schedules. Hybrid parents are least likely to feel “very” informed about their children’s academic progress. They are also most likely to perceive negative impacts to their children’s academic progress and mental health.
About The MassINC Polling Group: The MassINC Polling Group is a nonpartisan public opinion research firm serving public, private, and social-sector clients. MPG elevates the public's voice with cutting-edge methods and rigorous analysis. Based in Boston, MPG serves a nationwide client base.