We’re All Teachers Now

Perspectives and Future Plans of Parents Teaching at Home during COVID

COVID-19 school closures were the largest disruption of schooling in modern history. This study examines what schooling at home looked like for families, what educational resources schools offered, parents’ assessment of the experience, and their plans for the 2020-2021 school years. Most schools provided educational resources ranging from hardcopy packets and worksheets to live instruction provided online. Many also provided computers and internet access to families. Students and parents—mostly mothers spent an average of 3.5 and 2.5 hours a day, respectively, working through assignments and materials provided by schools. Parents were generally positive about the experience, but many were concerned their children had fallen behind academically. Only a small percentage said they were going to homeschool, but more than a third planned to send their child to a virtual school. Of those who were going to homeschool or choose a virtual school, concern about their child’s health was the dominant motivation. Differences on many questions were evident based on family income and type of school attended in 2019- 2020.