OCPS survey: Respondents prefer returning to school with safety measures

Of the 88,349 parents who responded to a 2020-21 school year survey conducted by Orange County Public Schools, 33,268 — 37% — said they would prefer their children to return to school with safety measures in place.

Similarly, of the 20,343 district employees who participated in the survey, 6,695 — 33% — also indicated returning to school as their preference.

The survey, conducted over a four-day period the week of May 18, 2020, gave stakeholders an opportunity to share their opinions on how the district should proceed in the next school year. However, district officials said the state ultimately will decide how OCPS will proceed.

In addition to the option to return to school with safety measures in place, other options included: continue distance learning; blended return to school and distance learning; and unsure at this time.

More than 108,000 parents and employees participated in the survey. However, some parents indicated they never received the survey or had trouble responding to it. District officials said the survey was sent only to parents listed as the primary parent or guardian in its system. It also said the call could have been filtered as spam by phone carrier.

Here are the complete survey results:

2020-21 PARENT SURVEY RESULTS
Option 1: Return to school with safety measures in place — 33,268 (37%) 

Option 2: Continue distance learning — 15,716 (18%)

Option 3: Blended return to school and distance learning — 21,058 (24%)

Option 4: Unsure at this time — 18,307 (21%)
TOTAL: 88,349

2020-21 EMPLOYEE SURVEY RESULTS
Option 1: Return to school with safety measures in place — 6,695 (33%)

Option 2: Continue distance learning — 4,378 (22%)

Option 3: Blended return to school and distance learning — 5,692 (28%)

Option 4: Unsure at this time — 3,578 (17%)
TOTAL: 20,343