More than eight-in-ten parents want schools to provide individualized learning plans for each student based on their specific needs
77% of parents would like to see more summer school programs for additional academic instruction
Parents show their overwhelming preference for individualized learning plans based on specific student needs after a year of unprecedented disruption due to Covid-19
Boston, MA (March 29, 2021) — A new poll released today by the National Parents Union found 64% of parents of K-12 public school students approves of President Biden’s handling of school reopening plans, as his administration continues its push to open schools by May 1. Just 26% of parents disapproved of how President Biden is handling the issue.
The poll also found strong support among parents for schools to provide individualized learning plans for each student based on their specific needs. 86% of the respondents said that’s a change schools should make. Additionally, 77% want schools to provide more summer school programs in 2021 for additional academic instruction
The poll also found that parents continue to want options for their child’s learning both this year and next year, as 58% want the opportunity to choose between in-person and remote/online learning options for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. 56% of parents want that option for next school year, with just a quarter of parents saying that in-person learning should be the only option.
When asked to prioritize the ideas of what changes would make the most difference for students to help them get back on track, parents say:
Provide individualized learning plans for each student based on their student need (34%);
Provide all student with the technology necessary to do online learning (30%); and,
Provide more after school tutoring programs for additional academic instruction (30%).
“With all the dysfunction and chaos parents and their children have experienced with education over the past 12 months, two things are clear: parents want options for in-person and remote moving forward and parents want individualized learning plans tailored to the specific needs of their child,” said Keri Rodrigues, co-founder and president of the National Parents Union. “Throughout the pandemic, parents have been entrepreneurial in their approach to ensuring their children are educated, and it is long past due that schools begin reimagining their approach to education as well. However, the only way that will work, and the only way to move forward, are for parents to have a seat at the table, and not just any seat, but the seat at the head of the table. We know better than the special interests who have historically occupied that coveted seat what is best for our children and we are going to fight to get it.”
The majority– 58%– of parents also continue to want schools focused on rethinking how to educate students, coming up with new ways to teach children moving forward, a number that has remained steady over the past year.
Parents say children do not have access to mental health and emotional wellbeing supports:
34% of parents say that their school is not offering any services or resources to support student mental health, while another 27% are unsure. Only 39% of parents report their child’s school is providing support for their emotional wellbeing.
Parents continue to give the lowest school ratings on mental health resources with 33% ranking their school’s efforts as only fair or poor; while 53% say they are excellent or good.
Parents divided on testing:
Opinions regarding continuation of statewide testing are divided; 51% of parents say that testing should continue while 40% say that there should be a break from statewide testing this year.
58% of parents say they will have their child take the state test if they are administered in their school.
Full toplines and crosstabs can be found here:
1,029 parents of K-12 public school students