Many teachers are unlikely to return to their classrooms after experiencing the challenges of remote work during the coronavirus pandemic.
A USA Today/Ipsos poll released Tuesday found that nearly two-thirds of teachers said they haven’t been able to do their jobs properly since the health crisis upended traditional learning. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 said they do not plan on coming back to school in the fall.
Over 80% of teachers said they are worried about students “right now” compared with 60% of parents. The majority of teachers also said they are worried that distance learning may cause some students to fall behind.
A separate poll of parents with at least one child attending grades K-12 found 6 in 10 are likely to pursue teaching options at home instead of sending their children back to school in the fall. About 30% of parents said they’re “very likely” to continue remote learning.
“As our world has changed, almost everything we do has changed, including how we view and approach education,” Ipsos President Cliff Young said. “Though Americans are optimistic about a return to in-person learning, there is angst among teachers, parents and America at large about how to keep our schools safe if the virus isn’t fully contained.”
Among other concerns within the educational community included a disparity between low-income households when it comes to accessing technology. Though almost all parents who participated in the poll said their children have reliable access to internet services to continue their education remotely, 3% said they did not. For software and other technology equipment needed, 10% of parents said they don’t have access. Of the households that reported a lack of access, nearly 1 in 5 had an annual income of less than $50,000 a year.
On Sunday, President Trump tweeted that schools should open “ASAP.” States are set to decide on their own timelines for their districts to resume in-person learning with the expectation that they keep in mind Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
The USA Today/Ipsos polls were conducted online between May 18-21. The first poll surveyed 505 K-12 teachers. The second poll surveyed 403 parents of K-12 children.
