Most parents would support school closures, Qualtrics study finds

Parents are about to send their kids back to school for the second time during a global pandemic and the majority (56 percent) say they are more worried this year than last about the health and safety of their kids, according to a new study by Qualtrics, a Provo-based experience management provider. Parents are so worried, they’re even willing to deal with school closures, despite beliefs that hybrid and remote learning have caused their kids to fall behind in their education.

Full study results can be found at https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/back-to-school-study/.

With the COVID-19 Delta variant on the rise, 65 percent of parents would be supportive of a school closure if cases continue to surge. Getting kids back to in-person school — which most parents (65 percent) agree is the best learning environment for kids — is still a priority. A third of parents say they are most looking forward to their children returning to in-person school over any other activity, including going to the movies, eating in restaurants, travelling or celebrating holidays.

Most of the country’s schools are preparing to reopen for fully in-person instruction, if they haven’t done so already. But as parental behavior is a key element in keeping kids safe from COVID, school administrators and government officials will have to navigate parental concerns in addition to Delta variant numbers as they decide on policies for the new school year.

“Nothing has been easy during the pandemic. Considering all the difficulties with remote learning access and outcomes, the fact that so many parents would support continued closures shows just how seriously they are taking the Delta variant surge,” said Dr. Karla Fisher, chief advisor for educational institutions at Qualtrics. “It’s a frightening fact that there’s a tradeoff between the best possible education for kids and their health. But school leaders are having to make those kinds of tough decisions now. Understanding the parent and student experience is essential for leaders who want to make the best policy choices for communities they serve.”