7 in 10 parents concerned children will face setbacks in schools due to pandemic

A new poll found that about 7 in 10 parents are concerned that their children will face setbacks in school, academically and socially, due to the coronavirus pandemic that caused many schools to switch to online learning for months.

The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll showed that 69 percent of parents are somewhat concerned about their child falling behind academically.

Similarly, 70 percent of parents are at least somewhat concerned their child will fall behind socially due to the loss of sports and other activities, the poll found.

Many schools have not been fully in person, five days a week for a year. Sports seasons have been canceled or limited because of the pandemic. 

One study showed middle and elementary school students are falling behind in math, while another study showed that students who have been in person for class were less stressed than those still in online learning. 

However, concerns with their children falling behind in school are coupled with a concern that schools reopening could cause coronavirus cases to rise.

The poll showed that 64 percent of parents are at least somewhat concerned that schools reopening could cause a spike in coronavirus cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed the recommendation for social distancing from 6 feet to 3 feet in schools. This will allow for class sizes to increase, as desks had to be taken out of classrooms to accommodate for 6 feet of social distancing.

The Biden administration is looking to implement coronavirus testing and give other resources to schools in order for them to reopen safely.

The administration is pushing for all schools to reopen this spring and get kids back in the classroom.

The poll surveyed 1,076 adults from Feb. 25 to March 1. The margin or error is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.