An area computer tutor, Jack Mahoney, Quarryville,helped her shop for a computer and set it up. After a few one-on-one lessons, she was ready to use a word processor, surf the Web, and send e-mails.

This story has been updated to correct the name of one of the parents. Over the past year, at the Stanislaus County education office in Modesto, about a dozen parents have met monthly for two-hour ...