Many immigrant parents struggle to provide their children with more educational resources than US-born parents, according to a new report from the Migration Policy Institute’s (MPI) National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy (NCIIP).
Kids are part of the parents who need to prepare their kids for school and also to aid their education, particularly if the child is in preschool or elementary school. However, the report mentions some of the disadvantages immigrant parents have over U.S.-born parents. These range from low English levels to lack of formal education and higher poverty.
What the Study Found
In this article, we examined 2014-2018 U.S. Census Bureau data. The data included 31 states and parents of children in two age groups (ages 0-4 and 5-10). Immigration: Immigrant parents accounted for 23 percent of all parents with children 0–4, and 24 percent of all parents with children 5–10 in the United States.
The authors conclude that immigrant parents are much more challenged than U.S.-born parents: here are some areas where they excel:
English Proficiency and Education
The majority of immigrant parents with young children (0-10) are Low English Proficient (LEP), that is, not proficient in English beyond “very well.” And four times as many immigrant school parents have no high school diploma or equivalent.
They note that a child’s school readiness depends heavily on his or her parents’ educational status. U better-paying is the ailment that holds back immigrant parents from higher education and better-paying work. And, as a result, they are now especially limited in how they can support their children with education — not less so with the emergence of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic when parents were supposed to provide their kids with online resources and online tutoring.
Employment Challenges
Most immigrant parents have jobs, according to the study, but obstacles still hinder them from pursuing their children’s percentages.
- 70% of the immigrant parents with children between 0 and 4 work.
- Employed are 74 percent of immigrant parents with 5–10-year-old children.
One in four immigrants promoted work in these vital fields during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these were more difficult to remote work from. This was further a challenge, as most immigrant families had both parents at vital-career jobs, which meant they could get more infected and had less time to give kids online education or homework.
Digital Access Barriers
But the COVID-19 pandemic also brought out the immense digital barriers for immigrant families. Immigrant parents did not have as many resources as U.S.-born parents:
- 33% of immigrant parents with 0-4-year-old children didn’t have the internet.
- 44% of immigrant parents with children between 5 and 10 years old had no internet.
- One in three immigrant parents with children between 0 and 4 had no computer or laptop at home.
- 22% of schools and parents of 5-10-year-old children did not have a computer or laptop.
Although school districts in most areas sent out laptops and hotspot programs during the pandemic, the research shows that it’s not enough to simply use tech. These programs didn’t always inform immigrant parents of programs that make use of technology to benefit their children’s education. More intensive programs are needed to empower families to become digitally more literate and equipped for distance learning.
Poverty and Financial Struggles
A high percentage of immigrant parents are already poor, which makes supporting their children even harder. Half of immigrant parents with children 0-4 and 5-10 are poorer than their U.S.-born counterparts.
What’s more, immigrant parents are more likely to be working poor –percent, employed but earning less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). That’s 30 percent of immigrant parents with 0 10 percent and 10 percent of immigrant parents with 5 to 10 children, as compared with 21 percent and 20 percent of native-born parents.
Poverty for immigrant parents is related to lesser levels of formal education, not to less English. Immigrants make up roughly a quarter of all parents in the United States, but nearly 60 percent of low-income parents of infants and children are immigrants with no high school diploma.
What This Means for Immigrant Families
These are not new problems, but the COVID-19 pandemic made them more resonant. These concerns require a multifaceted solution for immigrant parents and their children’s educational attainment. There are several recommendations from the report to aid immigrant families:
- Handle low-income immigrant parents’ education: Offering upskilling opportunities and support to get better jobs and educational credentials could benefit their children in the long run.
- More access to child care and transportation: If parents have access to child care and training programs they will have more time to help their children learn.
- Look at two-generation programs: The programs promote the children’s achievement and parents’ mobility. This model takes the view that helping immigrant parents educate and develop themselves contributes to the whole family – they are all better off.
Immigrant parent’s challenges are many, but the report is clear that they must receive immediate and long-term help to overcome them. And when we invest in the education of immigrant families, we are setting them up for the better.
How do financial constraints affect the educational choices of immigrant families?
Financial constraints significantly impact the educational choices of immigrant families, influencing their ability to invest in education and navigate the complexities of the education system in their host country. Here are the key ways in which these constraints manifest:
Financial Barriers to Education
- Limited Financial Resources: Many immigrant families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, face substantial financial challenges that limit their ability to afford educational expenses such as tuition, books, and transportation. This is especially pronounced among undocumented families who may have restricted access to financial aid and scholarships.
- Employment Obligations: Immigrant students often bear family responsibilities that require them to work part-time or full-time jobs. This can detract from their academic performance as they struggle to balance work and school commitments. The need to support their families financially can lead to reduced educational aspirations or choices that prioritize immediate income over long-term educational goals.
- Inadequate Academic Preparation: Financial constraints are compounded by the reality that many immigrant students come from educational backgrounds that do not adequately prepare them for postsecondary education. This lack of preparation can result in lower enrollment and completion rates in higher education institutions, further perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Decision-Making Influences
- Joint Decision-Making: Financial constraints often lead families to make joint decisions regarding migration and education investments. Families with limited resources may prioritize immediate economic stability over educational advancement, resulting in lower rates of migration for educational purposes among those who are less financially secure.
- Cultural Expectations: Immigrant families may also face cultural expectations that influence educational choices. For instance, first-generation students might feel a strong obligation to contribute financially at home, which can discourage them from pursuing higher education or lead them to select less costly educational paths.
- Access to Information: Many immigrant families lack access to information about educational opportunities and resources available to them, which can hinder their ability to make informed decisions about education. This is exacerbated by language barriers and cultural differences that complicate their engagement with the education system
Education in the United States can be hard for immigrant families, but there are solutions. Law and Visas gives advice and tools for immigrant families to overcome these barriers and create better futures for themselves and their children. Immigrant parents can support their children in school and beyond with the right assistance.
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