Majority of Arizonans OK with sending kids back to school, poll finds

PHOENIX – A majority of Arizonans are OK with the idea of sending kids back to school as the state reopens from coronavirus-related closures, according to recent polling.

Of 400 likely Arizona voters questioned by HighGround Public Affairs Consultants, 52% replied either “definitely yes” or “probably yes” when asked if they were willing to allow children to resume schooling.

Only 34% said “probably no” or “definitely no,” and 14% said they didn’t know.

The positive response was even higher among families with school-age kids, 57% of whom gave a yes reply. That number was 50.2% for households without children in school.

The survey released last week was conducted May 18-22, about two weeks before the Arizona Department of Education released its guidelines Monday for reopening public schools.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9%.

Sending kids back to school wasn’t the only activity a majority of respondents were ready to resume.

The yes response on visiting or hosting friends or relatives outweighed the no vote 75%-24%, which was similar the margin OK with gathering in groups of 10 or fewer.

Retail shopping gained approval of 67.5%, while 59.3% said yes to dine-in restaurant services.

However, several activities got a thumbs down by a majority of respondents.

Nearly 68% said no to concerts, about 65% had negative reaction to either bars or sporting events, and just under 58% weren’t ready to sit in a movie theater.

Related

New Arizona polling shows tight race for president, big gap for SenateArizona releases guidelines for how to safely reopen public schoolsHarkins adds late-night showings of ‘The Odyssey’ in Arizona’s only IMAX 70mm theaterPop-punk band All Time Low to perform at Arizona State FairJudge in case brought by Arizona, 11 other states temporarily blocks Paramount-Warner mergerHomicide suspect who was injured during arrest in Mesa has been booked into jail