As mentioned previously, Julie and Jane were in modified programs in school, while Natalie and Lynne have limited formal education having dropped out before high school. The parents try to offer whatever support they can for their children's schoolwork, but admit that it is often a struggle. Lynne depends on her partner to help her daughter with homework that specifically involves reading since she recognizes her limitations and points out that "when it comes to her reading she'll sit beside her father and do it."

Jane provides an example of how her limited literacy skills led her to get taken by an enticing offer from a mail order club because she really didn't understand the particulars when she joined, "I ordered a few movies from Columbia House…it's cancelled now, because like I got caught. Ah…when it first starts you get that deal. You get ah…nine movies for a penny…Then you get that. Then you got to keep your contract for a year." She continues, "It was expensive, that's why I cancelled it…I thought it would be kind of cheap then going to buy them all the time, it was expensive…I cancelled it…last summer I got four movies, like my four movies, the bill was $80.86… for four movies!" She adds that she "didn't finish paying that bill off yet. I just sent them a little bit of money and I'll have to send them the rest."

Two of the parents, Michelle and Julie, are enrolled in academic upgrading so that they will be better able to help their children. Michelle completed a modified high school program at age 22, after experiencing a tough academic and personal life. The lack of support she had from her family was apparent in her heart-wrenching story:

Like I failed grade 1. I failed grade 3. And I reached grade 10 and 11, 12…I failed English every year…I've done two years of summer school past grade 12. I was determined I wanted to graduate…but when I graduated I wanted to walk up the stage, and get my diploma you know. It was just something big, you know, thinking that my father was going to be there. But my father didn't show up at my graduation.