On Tuesday, Kids First Chicago (K1C) released the findings of a citywide survey of 415 CPS K-12 parents. The results showed that 54 percent of respondents prefer to remain fully in remote learning for their children, while 46 percent favored some in-person learning (30 percent hybrid and 16 percent fully in person). Parents who prefer the hybrid or fully in-person models are more likely to be dissatisfied or less satisfied with the quality of education their children have received, and their connection to peers, teachers, and school staff. 

The survey was conducted in English and Spanish by the nonpartisan and objective research organization NORC at the University of Chicago between December 2020 and January 2021, nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools were conducting fully remote classes at that time and the City’s COVID positivity rate was hovering around 7.8 percent. Schools were four months into the 2020-21 school year and had not yet released first-semester school report cards. The final sample included 415 respondents.  The dual-language report is available for download, along with a digital summary site at kidsfirstchicago.org/ed-recovery-data-insights.