Perception of climate change among science educators in public, private, and homeschooling schools in Puerto Rico

Environmental perception plays a crucial role in shaping effective adaptation strategies among citizens. This study examined perceptions of climate change among public and private school teachers, as well as homeschoolers, in Puerto Rico. A 40-item Likert-type questionnaire was administered to a non-probability sample of 102 participants from 37 municipalities nationwide. Statistical analyses revealed a high overall concern for climate issues, with significant differences based on educational sector (χ2 [4] = 13.90, p = 0.008). Public and private school teachers showed greater concern than homeschoolers. The instrument demonstrated excellent reliability (α = 0.91). Exploratory factor analysis identified four perception dimensions: ecological impacts, institutional environmental education, social awareness, and climate change in the curriculum. No significant correlations were found between teaching experience and climate concern. These findings emphasize the importance of strengthening environmental education strategies through a comprehensive and inclusive approach that engages all educational sectors.