As Delta Variant Spreads, Most Parents Would Support School Closures, New Qualtrics Study Finds

Rhea-AI Summary

According to a Qualtrics study conducted between July 28-30, 2021, 56% of parents are more concerned about their children's health and safety as they return to school during the pandemic. With the Delta variant increasing, 65% of parents would support school closures if cases rise. Despite concerns, 65% believe in-person school is essential for learning. The study showed that 53% of parents felt their children fell behind due to remote learning, highlighting a significant educational concern. Most parents rated their school districts' pandemic response as above average.

Positive

• 67% of parents rated their school district's pandemic response as above average (A or B).
• 65% of parents agree that in-person schooling is the best environment for learning.

Negative

• 56% of parents express more concern about children's health compared to last year.
• 53% of parents believe their children fell behind in schoolwork due to remote learning.
• Political divide evident in school closure support: 83% of Democrats vs. 49% of Republicans.

PROVO, Utah and SEATTLE, Aug. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents are sending their kids back to school for the second time during a global pandemic and the majority (56%) say they are more worried this year than last about the health and safety of their kids, according to a new study by Qualtrics (Nasdaq: XM), the leading experience management (XM) provider that serves nearly 9,000 education institutions worldwide. Parents are so worried, they're even willing to deal with school closures, despite beliefs that hybrid and remote learning has caused their kids to fall behind in their education. (Study results can be found here)

With the COVID-19 Delta variant on the rise, 65% 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%) agree is the best learning environment for kids — is still a priority though. 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, 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."  

More key takeaways from the study include:

• Majority of parents give their school district an above average grade: 67% of parents grade their school's response to the global pandemic above average (A or B on the grading scale). 
• Experience makes people more comfortable with the remote model: 56% of parents whose kids did fully in-person schooling said they would be supportive of a school closure if Delta variant cases continue to spike supportive, compared to 79% of those whose children attended school were fully remotely last year.
• Students are falling behind and remote education is to blame: 53% of parents say their kids fell behind on schoolwork during the pandemic and the most common reason they gave was hybrid or remote learning
• The political divide drives opinions on school closures: Democrats (83%) are much more likely than Republicans (49%) to be supportive of a school closure.

Methodology
This study was fielded between July 28-30, 2021. Respondents were considered eligible if they live in the United States, are at least 18 years of age, and are parents of children aged 5-18. The total number of respondents was 1,025. Respondents who did not pass quality standards were removed.

Additional information:

• Full version of Qualtrics' 2021 Back to School study found here: qualtrics.com/blog/back-to-school-study/
• To learn more about how Qualtrics is helping improve the education experience, please visit: qualtrics.com/education/

About Qualtrics: Qualtrics, the world's No. 1 Experience Management (XM) provider and creator of the XM category, is changing the way organizations manage and improve the four core experiences of business—customer, employee, product, and brand. Over 13,500 organizations around the world are using Qualtrics to listen, understand, and take action on experience data (X-data™)—the beliefs, emotions, and intentions that tell you why things are happening, and what to do about it. The Qualtrics XM Platform™ is a system of action that helps businesses attract customers who stay longer and buy more, engage employees who build a positive culture, develop breakthrough products people love, and build a brand people are passionate about. To learn more, please visit qualtrics.com.

Contact:
press@qualtrics.com

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SOURCE Qualtrics

FAQ

What percentage of parents support school closures due to the Delta variant for XM?

65% of parents would support school closures if Delta variant cases continue to surge according to the Qualtrics study.

How do parents perceive the education quality during the pandemic for XM?

53% of parents believe their kids fell behind academically during the pandemic, attributing this to hybrid or remote learning.

What is the parents' grading of school districts' pandemic response for XM?

67% of parents rated their school district's response to the pandemic as above average (A or B).

What do parents prefer regarding education environments for XM?

65% of parents agree that in-person schooling is the best environment for children's education.

What political divide exists regarding school closures for XM?

Democrats show 83% support for school closures compared to 49% of Republicans.