Back to School? ‘No Thanks,’ Say Millions of New Homeschooling Parents

Many parents are balking at back-to-school, choosing instead to homeschool their children this fall.

According to a USA Today/Ipsos poll, 60 percent of parents surveyed said they will likely choose at-home learning this fall rather than send their children to school even if the schools reopen for in-person learning. MNStudio/Shutterstock

Next month marks the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year in several U.S. states, and pressure is mounting to reopen schools even as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. Florida, for example, is now considered the nation’s No. 1 hot spot for the virus; yet on July 6, the state’s education commissioner issued an executive order mandating that all Florida schools open in August with in-person learning and their full suite of student services.

Many parents are balking at back-to-school, choosing instead to homeschool their children this fall.