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The Impact of a Messaging Intervention on Parents’ School Hesitancy During COVID-19
General Information
Title
The Impact of a Messaging Intervention on Parents’ School Hesitancy During COVID-19
Author
Morgan S. Polikoff, Daniel Silver, Marshall Garland, Anna Rosefsky Saavedra, Amie Rapaport, Michael Fienberg
Publication Type
Journal paper
Outlet
Educational Researcher
Year
2022
Abstract
Throughout the 2020–2021 school year, families’ access to—and desire to participate in—in-person educational experiences was highly unequal. Concerns about “school hesitancy” in light of COVID-19 have continued into the 2021–2022 school year, driven both by concerns about well-being and concerns about safety. Using a nationally representative sample of families, we tested a messaging intervention aimed at reducing school hesitancy. We found that targeted messaging to address well-being and safety concerns substantially improved parent reports of their likelihood of sending their child back for in-person learning for parents who were previously unsure. The findings suggest the importance of careful COVID-related communication from schools.