This qualitative study explored the functions of schools as described by parents of students whose second and third grade school year was disrupted by initial COVID-19 related school closures in the spring of 2020. Current literature expresses five overarching functions of schools--socialization, knowledge, future success, citizenship, and happiness and wellbeing; these five functions of schools were echoed in the experiences and perspectives of parent participants. According to parents, the most absent function during school closures was socialization, but the most important function, over all other functions, is knowledge. Parent perspectives divided the five functions found in literature into two categories, which are termed "active functions" and "latent functions." Socialization and knowledge acquisition are active functions of schools while children are receiving preK-12 education, while future success, citizenship, and happiness and wellbeing were found to be latent functions that manifest as a result of preK-12 education in the lives of children when they enter adulthood. While this interpretation of the data separates the five functions into two broad categories, there certainly exist observable indicators of latent functions prior to adulthood, and adults are capable of continued socialization and knowledge acquisition, such that all five functions are interrelated. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]