search
Sections List
American Journal News

GOP complaints about pace of school reopenings aren't convincing anyone

A new poll shows even 68% of Republicans are happy with Democrats’ approach.

By Josh Israel - March 05, 2021
Share
Kevin McCarthy

The GOP strategy of blaming Democrats for a slow return to fully in-person education has hit a snag: Most Americans who are following the issue of school reopening are happy with the way things are progressing.

A Navigator Research poll released Friday asked those who are aware of what their local schools are doing if they are happy with the plan for K-12 schools in their community. Of those, 63% said the plan was going well, compared to just 24% who said it was not. Even among GOP voters, 68% said things were going fine and 23% said they were not.

Even in areas where the schools remain fully closed for in-person learning, people still approved of their local plans 55% to 30%.

Among all voters, 75% agreed more with those who want to make sure schools reopen “the right way for the safety of students” than those who “want to reopen schools immediately,” while 18% said the opposite.

Republicans have spent months attacking educators, President Joe Biden, and Democrats for not immediately reopening every school for fully in-person learning.

Our kids are struggling, Mr. President. Enough is enough: we need to reopen our schools,” tweeted House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Feb. 25.

“As soon as we started last month, I made a big deal out of the fact that messaging has to be about schools as we go forward,” Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told NBC News on Feb. 16. “It’s the teachers unions that want to keep the schools closed. Democrats are ignoring the science, and they’re standing with their special-interest donors instead of the students.”

Previous polls have not shown much support for the GOP position. According to a Morning Consult/Politico poll released Feb. 17, 55% of American voters did not want to reopen schools until teachers had received coronavirus vaccinations; just 34% preferred to reopen schools immediately.

Navigator Research separately noted on Thursday that by a 47% to 32% margin, more Americans trust Biden and Democrats to make decisions about “how and when to reopen schools” than trust Republicans to do so.

While Republican lawmakers say they want to reopen schools right away, they have opposed Democratic efforts to provide the funds to make that possible. House and Senate Republicans have thus far unanimously opposed Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which would provide more than $125 billion to help schools more safely return to in-person instruction.

Overall, Navigator’s polling found the public approves of Biden’s pandemic response by a margin of 60% to 33%. Most believe Biden’s response is “getting it about right” and that Donald Trump “did not do enough” to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An AP-NORC poll released Friday showed a similar support for Biden’s pandemic response: 70% of adults surveyed approve of his handling of COVID-19 and just 29% disapprove.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

By Jesse Valentine - April 22, 2025
Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

By Jesse Valentine - March 26, 2025
PEN America: Florida removed more library books than any state last year

PEN America: Florida removed more library books than any state last year

By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix - November 01, 2024
Amid fraught landscape, school districts react differently to transgender sports ban law

Amid fraught landscape, school districts react differently to transgender sports ban law

By Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin - October 04, 2024
Federal judge dismisses challenge to Tennessee law barring K-12 trans kids from restrooms of choice

Federal judge dismisses challenge to Tennessee law barring K-12 trans kids from restrooms of choice

By Anita Wadhwani, Tennessee Lookout - September 27, 2024
NC superintendent candidate Morrow called for mass arrests, enacting Insurrection Act in 2021 video

NC superintendent candidate Morrow called for mass arrests, enacting Insurrection Act in 2021 video

By Galen Bacharier, NC Newsline - August 12, 2024
AJ News
Latest
New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s stock trades continue to draw scrutiny

New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s stock trades continue to draw scrutiny

By Jesse Valentine - June 13, 2025
Kennedy fires vaccine safety panel, breaking promise to Senators

Kennedy fires vaccine safety panel, breaking promise to Senators

By Jesse Valentine - June 10, 2025
“An Abortion Saved My Life After I Got Leukemia”

“An Abortion Saved My Life After I Got Leukemia”

By Bonnie Fuller - June 10, 2025
Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans defends GOP tax bill with distortions and half-truths

Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans defends GOP tax bill with distortions and half-truths

By Jesse Valentine - June 06, 2025
Republican bill makes it easier for Trump to fire federal workers

Republican bill makes it easier for Trump to fire federal workers

By Jesse Valentine - June 04, 2025
Will a new abortion bill save the lives of pregnant women in Texas?

Will a new abortion bill save the lives of pregnant women in Texas?

By Bonnie Fuller - June 03, 2025
How many will lose health insurance under the Republican bill? The CBO says 13.7 million.

How many will lose health insurance under the Republican bill? The CBO says 13.7 million.

By Jesse Valentine - May 23, 2025
Rep. Bresnahan sold shares in PA companies ahead of market drop

Rep. Bresnahan sold shares in PA companies ahead of market drop

By Jesse Valentine - May 21, 2025
Senate Republicans confirm convicted felon as U.S. ambassador

Senate Republicans confirm convicted felon as U.S. ambassador

By Jesse Valentine - May 20, 2025
Texas women face prosecution for abortions if new bill becomes law

Texas women face prosecution for abortions if new bill becomes law

By Bonnie Fuller - May 16, 2025
It’s not just Medicaid—House Republicans want to cut food stamps too

It’s not just Medicaid—House Republicans want to cut food stamps too

By Jesse Valentine - May 15, 2025
Disability advocates arrested protesting GOP Medicaid cuts

Disability advocates arrested protesting GOP Medicaid cuts

By Jesse Valentine - May 14, 2025
Republican Bill Huizenga cheers power plant funds he tried to block

Republican Bill Huizenga cheers power plant funds he tried to block

By Jesse Valentine - May 12, 2025
Jack Ciattarelli called harmful tariffs a “grand experiment”

Jack Ciattarelli called harmful tariffs a “grand experiment”

By Jesse Valentine - May 09, 2025
Paul LePage, a Medicaid critic, launches congressional bid in Maine

Paul LePage, a Medicaid critic, launches congressional bid in Maine

By Jesse Valentine - May 06, 2025
Earle-Sears ignored trans issues in office—now she uses them as a wedge

Earle-Sears ignored trans issues in office—now she uses them as a wedge

By Jesse Valentine - May 05, 2025
Trump effectively shuts down campaign finance watchdog

Trump effectively shuts down campaign finance watchdog

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2025
Ciattarelli wants a DOGE-style commission to crack down on New Jersey Medicaid recipients

Ciattarelli wants a DOGE-style commission to crack down on New Jersey Medicaid recipients

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2025
House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

By Jesse Valentine - April 24, 2025
Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

By Jesse Valentine - April 22, 2025
Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2025
“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2025
Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

By Jesse Valentine - April 17, 2025
Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

By Jesse Valentine - April 16, 2025