But poor parents, many of them single moms and dads, may have little time to work with their kids. I see parents having a couple of jobs. Once in school, poor kids appear to learn at similar rates as their classmates, said Geoffrey Borman, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University. The trouble is, they start off behind and may move frequently. Then comes summer, when many low-income kids melt in front of the TV while their wealthier peers are off at camp.
Some parents simply lack the ability to help their children in school.
Micha Bushnell is a single mom with two daughters at Stratton Meadows. She is a Korean native with no formal education who speaks broken English. So her girls must look elsewhere for homework help. I wish I could help them more. Back on track Monica Arvayo came to Colorado last fall, after losing her job in Arizona.