Back to School — Perspectives From the American Public
Summary
Five months into the pandemic, Americans are now three times more likely than they were in April to believe COVID-19’s impact will last more than a year. As we look at the start of the academic year, what is Americans’ assessment of the educational value of the year ahead? How do we feel about whether students should be returning to college for in-person classes? And how do the feelings of those who lost jobs or income during the pandemic differ from those who didn’t?
The nationally representative Public Viewpoint survey, with more than 15,000 responses collected between March 25 and August 6, is intended to provide insights to the education and training providers, policymakers, employers, and individual Americans who are navigating the COVID-19 crisis.



