(U.S.) – Nearly half of U.S. parents reported they are “very worried” that their children will contract COVID-19 at school or in childcare facilities.
This information is according to the Franklin Templeton-Gallup Economics Recovery From COVID-19 study and is based on more than 5,000 web-based services conducted in an opt-in panel. Of those who participated, twenty-seven percent report they are “somewhat worried,” 13% indicated they are “not too worried,” and 9% stated they are “not at all worried.”
Additionally, researchers discovered that about half of those parents who reported they are “very worried” also prefer remote instruction. While the survey revealed that most parents who have one or more children enrolled in school prefer some level of in-person learning, either full-time or part-time, about a third of parents noted they would prefer their child’s school offer full-time remote learning.
The series of factors parents indicated affect their attitudes toward in-person instruction included cleanliness and sanitation procedures, requirements of daily health screenings, effectiveness of remote learning, and mask-wearing requirements.
K-12 schools across the country continue to navigate and transition between in-person, remote, and hybrid learning options as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
