Poll: Parents Have a Greater Appreciation of the Work Teachers Do To Teach K-12

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically disrupted the education system for all involved: teachers, students and their parents. Learning modalities have mostly shifted online and remote learning has become commonplace.

As part of recognizing Teacher Appreciation Week (last week, May 3-7), University of Phoenix commissioned The Harris Poll to conduct a survey of more than 2,000 Americans to better understand their perceptions of the education systems' shift to online learning for K-12 students, and the job teachers and administrators have done, since the pandemic began.

The online survey found that 82% of parents of K-12 virtual learners polled said they have a greater appreciation of the work teachers do to teach K-12 now than they did before the pandemic. Americans polled also agree (81%) that teachers have done the best they can to teach children under the unprecedented circumstances.

However, the overwhelming majority of parents believe more support is needed from school systems for virtual learning to be successful. In order to succeed, 84% of parents agree teachers deserve more resources and support to be able to teach virtually.