SurveyUSA poll: 1 in 5 California parents say school campuses should not open at all this year

Hybrid learning is supported by 34% of those polled, and only 10% said they support strictly in-person classes.

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Friday, July 10, 2020
Poll: 1 in 5 California parents say schools should not open this year
An exclusive Eyewitness News poll conducted by Survey USA asked parents in California about the possibility students returning to school campuses this fall.

An exclusive Eyewitness News poll asked Californians about the possibility of students returning to school this fall, to which one in five parents said campuses should not reopen at all this year.

Among the respondents, 21% said schools should remain closed and 25% said there should be remote learning only.

Hybrid learning is supported by 34% of those polled, and only 10% said they support strictly in-person classes.

Ten percent said they were not sure.

Health officials have suggested that all school districts in Los Angeles County should have a "Plan B" for reopening this fall if there is a spike in community transmission amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The county's public health director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday that a back-up plan would mean the likelihood of an extended period of virtual learning rather than learning on campus.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump threatened to hold back federal money if school districts don't bring their students back in the fall. Determined to reopen America's schools despite coronavirus worries, Trump complained that his own public health officials' safety guidelines are impractical and too expensive.

In the poll conducted by Survey USA, 1,450 California adults were interviewed earlier this week. Here is the full list and the results of each question:

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Donald Trump has responded to the coronavirus?

15% Strongly Approve

14% Approve

15% Disapprove

50% Strongly Disapprove

5% Not Sure

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Gov. Gavin Newsom has responded to the coronavirus?

17% Strongly Approve

56% Approve

13% Disapprove

5% Strongly Disapprove

9% Not Sure

Coronavirus: Parents express mixed feelings about students returning to school

When President Trump pushed for schools to re-open this fall, he pointed to a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics that championed in-person learning. Many parents aren't happy about their children staying home, but some expressed ambivalence about returning.

3. Do you approve or do you disapprove of the way your local county health officials have responded to the coronavirus?

17% Strongly Approve

56% Approve

13% Disapprove

5% Strongly Disapprove

9% Not Sure

4. Is President Trump too focused on keeping you healthy? Too focused on putting people back to work? Or, is President Trump striking the right balance between the two?

9% Too Focused On Keeping You Healthy

59% Too Focused On Putting People Back To Work

19% Striking The Right Balance

13% Not Sure

5. Is Gov. Newsom too focused on keeping you healthy? Too focused on putting people back to work? Or, is Gov. Newsom striking the right balance between the two?

28% Too Focused On Keeping You Healthy

13% Too Focused On Putting People Back To Work

42% Striking The Right Balance

17% Not Sure

6. In the fall, should California public schools for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade? Not open at all? Open for remote learning only, with all classes conducted online? Open for a "hybrid" school model, where on any given day some students are taking classes online and others are in the school building for in-person learning? Or open for in-person learning only, with all classes conducted in classrooms?

21% Not Open At All

25% Open For Remote Learning Only

34% Open For a "hybrid" School Model

10% Open For In-person Learning Only

10% Not Sure

7. If California public schools open for in-person learning, whether in a "hybrid" model or for in-person learning only, should students attend school for a full day? Or a half day?

31% Full Day

49% Half Day

19% Not Sure

8. If California public schools open using a hybrid model, should every student be physically in school for the same number of days? Or should some students be physically in schools for more days than other students?

53% Same Number Of Days For All

24% More Days For Some Students

23% Not Sure

9. Should the decisions about if and how California public schools should open be made ...

33% Individually In Each School District

26% On a County Or Regional Level

22% On The Statewide Level

11% On The National Level

9% Not Sure

10. Last year, did you have a child who regularly went to school on a school bus?

38% Yes

62% No

1% Not Sure

11. If the Coronavirus had never happened, and this were an ordinary school year, would you have had a child who would regularly go to school on a school bus this coming fall?

40% Yes

58% No

2% Not Sure

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