Poll: 2 in 3 teachers want to start the school year remotely

Dive Brief:

• A recent teacher poll shows most K-12 teachers are concerned about returning to the classroom this fall, and two-thirds want to start the school year remotely, NPR reports, noting an additional NPR/Ipsos poll showing 66% of parents want to start the year with distance learning models.

• Seventy-seven percent of teachers are worried about their own health, and 78% are concerned about having access to personal protective equipment and cleaning materials. However, 42% of teachers over 55 years old would still rather start school in person - compared to 74% of teachers under 34 preferring to start the year with mostly distance learning.

• Teachers are also concerned with enforcing safety procedures such as mask-wearing and social distancing, with 49% of teachers polled saying it is "very likely" enforcing social distancing will be difficult. Only 37% of teachers agree to some extent that their districts have sufficiently trained or prepared for the upcoming school year.

https://www.educationdive.com/news/poll-2-in-3-teachers-want-to-start-the-school-year-remotely/583111/