Strategies for Success

Social/Emotional Obstacles

Parents may have had poor prior experience with school or other social services, leading to diminished involvement in their children’s education.

Parents may also have little to no post-secondary school experience, which makes them ill-equipped to encourage their children to pursue college preparatory coursework, guide them through the college admissions process, or advocate for them when necessary.

Teachers may not form meaningful connections with students and their families, and students may feel socially marginalized at college.

Additional family problems, such as homelessness, create an even more challenging environment in which to provide a child structured support so he or she can succeed in school.

Health Obstacles

Students and families often lack access to adequate health care, which leads to undiagnosed and sometimes untreated physical and mental health problems that in turn may cause school absence and poor performance relative to ability.

Financial Obstacles

Parents and students lack the means to invest in educational supports such as tutoring and after-school programs. College is often beyond many parents’ financial resources, and parents’ work schedules are often inflexible, providing little opportunity for them to become involved with school meetings and events. Financial stress also may cause family instability such as frequent moves, and/or children living temporarily with relatives, all of which can lead to poor school attendance and performance.

Academic Obstacles

Many students arrive at elementary school academically behind and unable to meet behavioral & learning expectations of school.

Although students increasingly aspire to attend college, many think that their aspiration is unattainable, and that if they were to be admitted to college they would be unable to succeed there.