What is a common challenge for counselors when seeking support from immigrant parents?

The challenge of unfamiliarity with American school systems is significant for immigrant parents because they may not have prior experience navigating educational structures, norms, and expectations in the United States. Many immigrant families come from different educational backgrounds where the system may operate on different principles or have different educational values compared to American schools. This unfamiliarity can lead to confusion regarding processes such as enrollment, grading systems, parent-teacher communication, and available resources for their children.

Counselors seeking to engage with these families may find that the parents have difficulty understanding how the school operates, which subjects might be beneficial for their children, or how to advocate effectively within the school system. Because of this gap in knowledge, counselors may face challenges in establishing effective communication and building a partnership that supports the child’s educational success.

While the other options also reflect common challenges, they may not encompass the broader systemic barriers that result from a lack of knowledge about the school system itself. For instance, language barriers can indeed impede communication, but even in cases where the language is not a barrier, the parents may still struggle to comprehend how to navigate the educational landscape. Similarly, while a reluctance to engage may be present, it is often rooted in unfamiliarity or past experiences that shape parents’ willingness to