A majority of parents with school-age children (59%) say they support mask mandates for all students and staff, twice as many (30%) as the number who say they oppose all mask mandates, according to a new poll from Momentive and Axios. Another 10% of parents with children age 5-17 say the support mask mandates for unvaccinated students and staff members.
- Among parents of school-age children, 85% of Democrats, 66% of independents, and 32% of Republicans support mask mandates for all students and staff at their child’s school; 56% of Republicans, 24% of independents, and 4% of Democrats oppose all mask mandates at their child’s school
- More mothers than fathers (66% vs. 50%) support mask mandates for all students and staff; more fathers than mothers (36% vs. 24%) oppose all mask mandates
- Colorado (37%), Iowa (44%), Minnesota (38%), and Ohio (43%) have some of the strongest opposition to mask mandates among parents of school-age children
More than half of parents with school-age children (61%) say school districts in their area are requiring students to wear masks; about a quarter (28%) say school districts are not requiring students to wear masks, and 11% say they still don’t know what their local school district’s policy will be.
- 87% of parents in Illinois say their children’s school districts are requiring masks, vs. 3% who are not requiring masks
- 13% of parents in Iowa say school districts are requiring masks, vs. 77% who are not requiring masks
- 78% of parents in North Carolina say school districts are requiring masks, vs. 16% who are not requiring masks
- Texas, Florida, and Tennessee are split nearly evenly between parents who say their children are required or not required to wear masks
Two thirds of people in the U.S. (64%) are worried that a surge in coronavirus cases could occur in their area as a result of the start of the school year, with parents equally worried (66%) as others that such a surge would occur.
- More than twice as many Democrats as Republicans (88% vs. 41%) are worried that the start of the school will bring a surge in COVID cases
- Women are more likely than men (71% vs. 56%) to say they are worried about a surge in COVID cases
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Click through all the results in the interactive toplines below:
Do you have children of any of the following ages? (Select all that apply)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 38,251 18,279 19,340 None of the above 45%46%44%Under 5 years old 12%11%13%5-11 years old 17%16%18%12-17 years old 17%16%18%18 years or older 25%25%25%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: Do you have children of any of the following ages? (Select all that apply)Survey dates: –How worried are you about a surge in coronavirus cases in your area resulting from the start of the school year?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 38,251 18,279 19,340 Very worried 33%26%40%Somewhat worried 31%30%32%Not so worried 19%22%16%Not worried at all 16%20%11%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: How worried are you about a surge in coronavirus cases in your area resulting from the start of the school year?Survey dates: –As best you know, are the school districts in your area…
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 38,251 18,279 19,340 Requiring students to wear masks 51%50%53%Not requiring students to wear masks 23%24%23%I don’t know 24%25%22%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: As best you know, are the school districts in your area…Survey dates: –Thinking now about your oldest child age 5 to 17… Do you support or oppose mandates requiring students and staff to wear masks at your child’s school?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 10,169 4,457 5,522 Support mask mandates for all students and staff 59%50%66%Support mask mandates for unvaccinated students and staff 10%13%9%Oppose all mask mandates 30%36%24%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Thinking now about your oldest child age 5 to 17… Do you support or oppose mandates requiring students and staff to wear masks at your child’s school?Survey dates: –
