The Keystone Teachers Association has conducted multiple member surveys to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania educators. The purpose of this survey was to learn more about their perspectives with varied facets of teaching and learning through the pandemic. The results, gathered several weeks ago, were both informative and constructive. It is also important to realize that these opinions, much like the information we learn through this epidemic, are changing.
- Which of the following best describes your situation:
| I am educating students face-to-face only | 14.42% | |
| I am educating both face-to-face and remote students (asynchronous) | 44.23% | |
| I am educating both face-to-face and remote students (synchronous) | 20.19% | |
| I am educating remote students only (asynchronous) | 6.73% | |
| I am educating remote students only (synchronous) | 5.77% | |
| Other | 8.65% |
- Which of the following are you most concerned about in regard to the current school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic? (Select up to three.)
| Student learning gaps/learning loss | 67.31% |
| My health and the health and safety of students | 51.92% |
| Increased workload/demands on time | 44.23% |
| Increased student absenteeism | 24.04% |
| Increased staff absenteeism | 12.50% |
| School funding | 6.73% |
| Other | 6.73% |
- Are you interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available?
| I am interested | 45.63% |
| I am not interested | 31.07% |
| Unsure at present | 23.30% |
- My school building is safe for students and staff. Required measures to ensure safety against attracting the coronavirus are taken at all times.
| Strongly agree | 33.01% |
| Agree | 31.07% |
| Neutral | 22.33% |
| Disagree | 10.68% |
| Strongly disagree | 2.91% |
- In my school, there is a shortage of available substitute teachers, and it is a struggle for my school to cover additional classes.
| Strongly agree | 57.28% |
| Agree | 21.36% |
| Neutral | 11.65% |
| Disagree | 6.80% |
| Strongly disagree | 2.91% |
- I am given adequate planning time for the in-person and virtual teaching required.
| Strongly agree | 8.74% |
| Agree | 36.89% |
| Neutral | 24.27% |
| Disagree | 22.33% |
| Strongly disagree | 7.77% |
- Please share any additional thoughts or concerns you have regarding the pandemic’s impact on public education.
While these responses varied, the overall recurring theme was that students are falling behind and large learning gaps are occurring. Additionally, while some feel it is not safe to return to the classroom, most respondents in this area feel that the return to full in-person instruction is what is needed to stop the learning loss.
Many respondents were concerned about how to help the “invisible students” such as the ones that lack reliable internet access, those with learning challenges, or the ones that do not have parents available to support their learning.
Another recurring response was that education is becoming too political and the needs of the classroom teachers are not being heard over the special interests of large educational entities trying to control the narrative.
Finally, there are concerns over the increased workload educators are incurring that may not be decreased after the pandemic is over.
