Parents give public schools high grades for instruction during covid pandemic

Jun. 9—Pennsylvania parents have shown strong support for public schools during the covid-19 pandemic, which is a statewide trend that has been borne out at many local districts.

Of parents who responded to a Pennsylvania School Boards Association poll April 20-26, 69% gave the school their child attends a grade of A or B.

At the time of the poll, instructional models at Pennsylvania's public schools were fairly evenly divided among remote learning, in-person classes or a hybrid of the two.

Overall, 72% of parents rated their school's learning model as very or somewhat effective, with that rating increasing to 93% among parents whose children were learning in person.

According to the poll, if cost and location were not a concern, 55% of parents indicated they would choose a traditional public school for their children.

Hempfield Area School District similarly has used surveys to solicit input from families throughout the pandemic.

"Our instructional model was adjusted as the year progressed to include more in-person learning for secondary students, which parents indicated as the preferred method," said Hempfield Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. The district has offered in-person learning for elementary students throughout the 2020-21 school year, she said.

According to Wolicki, the number of Hempfield Area students participating in the district's in-house online instruction dramatically decreased as the year progressed while the number of students enrolled in outside cyber charter schools remained relatively unchanged compared to pre-pandemic years.

Riverview School District Superintendent Neil English said he wasn't surprised to hear of the widespread support for public schools.

"There's nothing like a public school education," English said. "We have the most knowledgeable body of folks that have devoted their lives to educating their students."

Public schools, he noted, are required to reach certain benchmarks set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. School officials closely watch their metrics to ensure they're meeting the state's standards — something not required of charter schools or private schools.

"It's a body of folks that are constantly looking at data, constantly looking at how to improve students and make sure that school-to-work pipeline is solid," said English.

Riverview's own survey of families in the district likewise revealed overwhelming support for public schools, English said.

"Preliminary results show that only five out of the first 600 chose any sort of virtual or other option," he said. "The data really supports public schools. Kids succeed well. Data shows public schools are where it's at."

That support, he said, was particularly important throughout the pandemic, when educators faced what English called "arguably the most difficult year in the history of public education." The pandemic forced schools to adapt to remote and hybrid learning models and juggle social distancing and masking considerations with students.

"We've gotten great positive feedback from our community," English said. "Our community has been phenomenal this year. Our parents supported us and understood how hard it was for teachers to manage kids at home and kids in the classroom simultaneously. They were incredibly supportive."

English urged families that support public education to urge their local representatives to back public schools. Public schools have to pay for students within their district who opt to attend charter schools — an expense that can be difficult for public schools that already don't receive as much public funding as they'd like.

"Contact our local representatives — tell them how important a public-school education is for them and their kids. Get involved in charter school reform," he said. "That's a way to really support our local schools and put some money back into the coffer so we can continue to spend money on students."

In the Pennsylvania School Boards Association online poll, conducted by Washington, D.C.-based Cygnal, Inc., 63% of parents supported providing additional resources and support to struggling schools while 29% supported providing students in those schools with vouchers to attend a different school.

Shawn Annarelli, public relations coordinator at Deer Lakes School District, said that district also has received community support.

"We've seen students and parents, especially toward the end of the year, come to the front door with snacks for faculty and staff," he said, adding that some students have brought cards and small gifts for teachers and staff.

Last week, graduating seniors walked through each of the district's school buildings to bid farewell to former teachers. It was just one example, Annarelli said, of how widespread support for public schools begins with individual teachers forming connections with their students.

"Students were just lining up for their teachers and staff members, just stopping to thank the people who made an impact in their life," he said. "The foundation for the support we receive starts with those teachers and staff members throughout the entire school district."

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