【正确答案】 1、with assistance    

【答案解析】[解析] 由题干关键词better teachers, smaller classes and more modern schools定位到倒数第二段最后两句：Better teachers, smaller classes and more modern schools are all part of the solution. But improving parenting skills and providing struggling parents with assistance are part of the solution too. 可知除了更好的老师，更小的班级和更现代化的学校之外，解决的方法还有提高为人父母的技巧以及对处境艰难的父母提供帮助。