Los Angeles families are divided along racial lines and income levels over how well the Los Angeles Unified School District handled remote learning and other issues during the pandemic, a new poll shows.

The annual poll by Great Public Schools Now of 500 Los Angeles families found 43 percent of low income and 27 percent of families of color did not believe the quality of remote learning was good; while just 7 percent of higher income and 27 percent of white families experienced similar problems during the 2020-21 school year.

“Many low-income and families of color feel positive about what is going on in public schools in general; but not at the same level as higher-income families and white families in the school systems,” write the authors of the report.

“One resounding finding is that ensuring all students and their families have access to the same quality experiences is still not realized,” the report concluded.

When classes went remote in the spring of 2020, many L.A. students faced challenges such as not having devices or wifi access, the poll found. Concerns were also expressed about student mental health services and educational resources, with white families often reporting better interactions with the school system.

Here are 5 key findings from the report:

  1. Opinions on mental health support for students varied by race and income
  2. Opinions on the quality of remote learning were also mixed
  3. Students faced struggles accessing the internet at home — an issue that was true for students from all backgrounds
  4. Survey showed gaps in family perspective on school decisions
  5. Across the board, Los Angeles families wanted a better quality of education

Read the full article about parents' perspectives COVID-19 by Veronica Sierra at The 74.