Pointers at Glance
- During the Covid pandemic, 84% of parents looked hard at their kids’ education.
- According to the new poll, the top concerns are mentioned in this article.
The covid pandemic pushed parents to learn more about how their kids were educated in schools. Many parents report that they are more concerned about their children’s schooling.
At the end of the last school year in the US, a recently released survey by The Harris Poll commissioned by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools took the pulse of parents.
79% of parents said they became keener on their kids’ education because of what they saw when schooling became virtual and home-based during the pandemic. 84% said they learned more about their kids’ education during the pandemic.
5,002 parents with kids enrolled in school in the United States were surveyed online between May 19 and May 31, 2022.
According to the US Census Bureau, about 40% of US households have school-age children at home. According to the new poll, below are a few of their top concerns:
Education is an increasing issue for voters with kids
Most parents said education is the highest priority for them as voters. 82 percent said they are willing to vote outside their self-identified political party based on educational platforms. The study found that was true for 88% of independents, 81% of Democrats, and 79% of Republicans.
Parents expect their children to be safe at school
Parents in the Harris study said safety was stunningly the No. 1 issue for their kids’ education, especially since the pandemic. 77% said it was essential, and approximately 60% said it became more critical during the pandemic.
They also valued the quality of instruction (58% said it was essential) and the ability to provide individualized support (41%).
Public school enrollment is decreasing across the country
Enrollment in Houston dropped by more than 22,000 to about 183,000 in fall 2021, and only half of those students have returned to school. Enrollment in California dropped by more than 110,000 students in 2021-22 since the previous school year. Since the pandemic began, Minneapolis Public Schools has lost more than 4,000 students.
More options for schools are better
Parents who participated in the study said they favor having more schooling options, including charter schools for their children, and 93% agreed that education isn’t one-size-fits-all.
More than one-quarter of respondents said they had shifted their children’s school type at some point. The survey found that 89 percent of those who had switched said it was a positive move, mainly because their children were happier.
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