A new report out Tuesday, Dec. 7, suggests that most Los Angeles families want school leaders to reimagine public education and to not simply return to the old ways of doing things post-pandemic.
The report, which lays out the results of a survey conducted this fall as the majority of students and families were readjusting to in-person learning, involved polling 500 parents and caregivers whose children attend schools in Los Angeles, including traditional, magnet and charter programs.
It was conducted on behalf of Great Public Schools Now, in partnership with the Loyola Marymount Center for Equity for English Learners and the education reform group Families in Schools.
One major finding was that more than half (57%) of families overall support reexamining how students are taught.
“The pathway forward requires educators and leadership to continue to listen to families and take action in response to families’ experiences and preferences,” the report states. “Families want more resources to go to schools in lower-income communities. They want more individualized and targeted learning opportunities during the school day and after school,” including tutoring.
Although the majority of families support a reimagining of schools, there were disparities among subgroups. Black respondents showed the strongest support (71%), and a majority of White respondents (66%) agreed. Sixty-seven percent of families with the lowest income also felt this way, but only 45% of higher-income families — those with an annual household income of $60,000 or more — agreed.
In terms of how money should be distributed, 96% of respondents of families supported sending more dollars to support students from low-income neighborhoods. This included 100% of Black families polled, 96% of Latinos, 95% of Whites, 96% of all families of color and 93% of families with children learning English.
“Additionally, families of all income levels strongly support more equitable funding distribution — indicating Los Angeles families are ready to address historical lack of investments,” the report states.
Other survey findings showed that about four in five families overall felt their input has been taken into consideration by their schools, though more White families (95%) reported feeling this way compared to Latinos (82%) and Blacks (64%). Similarly, higher-income families felt their perspective was represented at the school level (93%) at a greater rate than families with very low income (68%).
The survey further found that while 85% of families overall said their schools’ handling of health-and-safety issues related to the coronavirus pandemic was excellent or good, only 74% of families with the lowest income gave positive marks versus 94% of higher-income families. There was also disparity by race, with 90% of White families giving positive marks compared to 85% of Latino families and 79% of Black families.
In terms of student mental health supports, 93% of higher-income families offered positive marks while only 64% of very low-income families did so. Black families also reported lower levels of satisfaction, at 61%.
As for leadership, the majority of respondents said they want the superintendent of Los Angeles Unified to be evaluated publicly on an annual basis, with 55% indicating strong support for this idea and another 40% indicating some support.
The results of the survey, which was conducted by phone and online between Sept. 27 and Oct. 24, have a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. Visit greatpublicschoolsnow.org/familyinsights2021 for more information about the survey findings.