Whether or not we should open schools for in-person learning this fall is a hotly-debated topic. It’s undeniable that schools form an essential part of our economy. In addition to educating our children and boosting their future economic opportunities, they also keep kids out of the home during the day, which allows parents to go to work. If schooling is held remotely, many parents will have to worry about child supervision, along with other concerns like providing meals during the day. In light of these concerns, WalletHub conducted a nationally representative WalletHub survey which found that 55 percent of parents in the U.S. want schools to meet in person this fall.
WalletHub’s survey examined Americans’ reasons for wanting schools to meet in person or continue remote learning, as well as their thoughts on teachers who conduct remote classes. Below are highlights from the survey, along with commentary from a panel of experts and a description of our methodology.
Key Stats
- Some parents can’t stay home. 32 percent of parents are not able to work remotely.
- Mixed feelings on teacher compensation. Almost 1 in 4 parents think that teachers who work remotely should either get paid less, work longer hours or give up vacation days.
- Fathers want schools to open more. 31 percent more fathers than mothers want schools to reopen for in-person learning.
- Politics impact reopening opinions. Two-thirds of conservative parents favor schools reopening, versus less than half of liberal parents.
Ask the Experts
For additional insight on the hot-button issue of whether or not to hold in-person learning this fall, WalletHub turned to a panel of experts. Click on the pictures of the experts below to see their bios and responses to the following key questions:
- WalletHub’s survey found that 55% of parents want schools to reopen for in-person learning; how much weight should officials give to parental feedback when making this decision?
- Why do you think 31% more fathers than mothers want schools to reopen for in-person learning?
- Should teachers who work remotely have to sacrifice in terms of less pay, longer hours or fewer vacation days?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of English Education, Associate Department Chair, Education, Eastern Connecticut State University
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Ph.D. – Associate Professor, School of Education, Howard University
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Ed.D. – Associate Professor of Education and Economics, Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University
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Ph.D. – Clinical Associate Professor, Urban Teacher Education, IUPUI Faculty Fellow-Diversity & Inclusion, School of Education, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
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Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Education, Affiliated Faculty, American Studies Affiliated Faculty, Africana Studies, William & Mary
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Ph.D. – Professor, Educational Administration, Curriculum and Supervision (EACS), Senior Researcher and Director, Institute for the Study of Education Finance (ISEF), Co-Director, EACS Online, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Oklahoma
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Survey Methodology
This report reflects the results of a nationally representative online survey of over 1,200 parents.
After we collected all responses, we normalized the data by age, gender and income so the sample would reflect U.S. demographics.
Full Details Overall
| Do you want schools to reopen for in-person learning? | |
|---|---|
| Yes | 55% |
| No | 44% |
| I don't have an opinion on the matter | 1% |
| Please provide the following information: Parent ability to work remotely | |
| Possible | 68% |
| Not possible | 32% |
| Should teachers who work remotely…? (check all that apply) | |
| Work longer hours | 10% |
| Get paid less | 8% |
| Give up vacation days | 6% |
| None of the above | 82% |
| What is the biggest reason why schools should not reopen? | |
| Concerns with public health | 65% |
| Concerns with family's health | 19% |
| Concerns with teachers’ health | 11% |
| None of the above, schools should reopen | 4% |
| Other | 1% |
| What is the biggest reason why schools should reopen? | |
| Its important for kids’ development | 81% |
| So that parents can go back to work | 10% |
| So that children can eat properly | 3% |
| Parents need a break | 2% |
| None of the above, children should not go back to school | 3% |
| Other | 1% |
Note: Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
