2021 Parent Survey

Executive Summary

A survey conducted by Florida Virtual School (FLVS) in August 2021 found that even after a challenging year where many families had to adapt to a new way of learning, more than 75% of parents believe that online learning allows their children to gain critical skills that they would not acquire in a traditional in-person setting, from communication and time management skills to online behavior etiquette.

In addition to many parents of Gen Z and Gen Alpha students welcoming online education as a permanent solution, this survey shows that online learning is not only important to students’ development of valuable soft skills such as managing time, setting and achieving goals, and having positive relationships with others during their elementary, middle, and high school years; it is also an essential experience of equipping them for future success. The following sections detail this survey and the important insights it conveyed.

Purpose

In August 2021, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) deployed a survey to parents of Kindergarten-12th grade students. Due to the flexible nature of course enrollment the survey was only distributed to families who were enrolled in FLVS courses for at least 90 days. 

As some recent studies have revealed (see, for example, the RAND Corporation’s findings (PDF)), online learning is expected to continue to be part of nationwide school district offerings post-pandemic. Some parents and teachers have also expressed concern about how online learning might affect their children’s social emotional learning and experiences. With students at the center of every decision, FLVS hoped to learn whether parents shared a similar sentiment. 

Survey Method

The 18-question survey inquired about school enrollment details as well as parents’ perspectives on the impact of online school on their elementary, middle, and high school children’s soft skills and social emotional learning experiences. The survey launched in late August 2021 and included Likert-type and single-and multi-select questions. Completed surveys of families who had been enrolled for a minimum of 90 days were included in the analysis. Additionally, responses of very positive/positive, very negative/ negative, strongly agree/agree, and strongly disagree/disagree were combined for analysis and reporting purposes.

Findings and Implications

Findings from the 3,248 survey respondents were overwhelmingly positive. The graphs and tables that follow depict the key findings and Likert response results.

Findings: Parents believe online school helps their children build skills that are necessary for school and future success.

Parent Response: Skills Necessary for Future Student Success 
Since starting at FLVS, do you feel that your student has improved his/her soft skills?

Findings: Parents believe online learning allows their children to be authentic as they navigate challenges and strive for success. 

Parent Response: Student Authenticity, Problem-Solving, and Goal Setting 
For your student, please rate the degree to which you agree or disagree about the following statements

Findings: Parents of online students strongly believe online learning benefits their children’s educational experiences.

Parent Response: Benefits of Online Learning 
Since starting at FLVS, do you feel that your student has improved his/her soft skills?

Additional statistical analysis was used to explore whether an association existed among grade levels and parents’ online school perceptions. Association among time spent in online school and parent perceptions was also explored. Parents’ perceptions of online education showed significant association (Chi-squared p-value <0.01) with both time spent in online school and grade levels. Overall, across all grade levels and time spent in online school, parents’ perceptions are overwhelmingly positive toward online learning. More than two-thirds of the respondents agree that their children gain key skills from learning online that they would not acquire in an in-person setting. Additionally, more than 80% of parents agree that online learning helps their children better prepare for the future. 

Parents That Believe Their Children Gain Key Skills Learning Online That They Would Not Acquire in an In-Person Setting

Parents That Believe Online Learning Helps Their Children Better Prepare for the Future

Closing Thoughts

Parents believe online learning helps their children build skills that are necessary for school and future success, allows their children to be authentic as they navigate challenges and strive for success, and benefits their children’s educational experiences. Continued enrollment and overwhelmingly positive sentiments about online learning in the lives of current Kindergarten-12th grade students indicate that it will continue to flourish for years to come.