Only 15 Percent of Floridians Want Schools to Reopen as COVID-19 Deaths Rise

As novel coronavirus deaths in Florida approach nearly 9,000, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of Floridians would support a statewide decision to close public schools this fall, while 14.6 percent would be opposed to it, according to new research by the University of South Florida.

The university surveyed 600 Florida residents, fielded from July 30 to August 10, who were selected using a “stratified, quota sampling approach in order to ensure a representative sample of Florida’s population,” the report noted.

The survey showed 7.8 percent would “strongly oppose” statewide school closures, while 6.8 percent would “somewhat oppose” it. Thirteen percent of those surveyed said they “neither support nor oppose” school closures this fall, the report said.

More than half (54 percent) indicated they would “strongly support” the closure of schools in the autumn, while 18.5 percent would “somewhat support” it.