What is the best initial step for helping a student who lacks parental help with homework?

• A. Ask Maria's teacher to arrange to help Maria with homework before or after school
• B. Arrange a conference with Maria's parents to find out what is preventing them from helping Maria with homework and suggesting community resources
• C. Call Maria's parents and ask them to hire a private tutor
• D. Let Maria and her parents know that she will be receiving after school detention if she does not complete future homework assignments

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is engaging the family and using collaborative problem-solving to understand what’s preventing parents from helping with homework and to connect them with available community supports. The best initial step is to hold a conference with Maria’s parents to learn firsthand what barriers they face—whether scheduling, language, access to materials, transportation, or other stresses—and to discuss what community resources might help. This approach respects the family’s role, builds trust, and yields a clearer picture of practical solutions tailored to their situation. It also sets up a plan that can involve school, family, and local resources, increasing the chances that homework support becomes feasible and effective.

Other options fall short as initial steps because they either push the responsibility onto the school or externalize the solution without understanding the family’s context (arranging school help without family input), presume a private-tutor solution without assessing needs or affordability, or rely on punitive consequences that do not address underlying barriers or build trust with the student and family.