Overview of the Washington State

Migrant Education Program

MSDR Office810-B East Custer

AvenueSunnyside, WA 98944

www.msdr.org

GENERAL MEP INFORMATION

MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM (MEP)-Title I, Part C - The Migrant Education Program (MEP) is authorized under Part C of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Migrant Education Program Goal The goal of the Migrant Education Program is to ensure that all migrant students reach challenging academic standards and graduate with a high school diploma (or complete a GED) that prepares them for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment.

GENERAL MEP INFORMATIONThe statutory purposes of the MEP set forth in Section 1301 are as follow:

1. Support high-quality and comprehensive educational programs for migrant children to help reduce the educational disruption and other problems that result from repeated moves;

2. Ensure that migrant children who move among the States are not penalized in any manner by disparities among the States in curriculum, graduation requirements, and State academic content and student academic achievement standards;

3. Ensure that migrant children are provided with the appropriate educational and supportive services that address their needs in a coordinated and efficient manner;

4. Design programs to help migrant children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that inhibit the ability of such children to do well in school, and to prepare such children to make a successful transition to post secondary education or employment.

SEMYThe Secondary Education for Migrant Youth Office, located in Sunnyside, is a statewide office supports school districts with education needs of secondary migrant students.

OSPIThe Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction operates the Washington State Migrant Education Program in Olympia, WA. It is a federally funded program through the United States Department of Education-Office of Migrant Education in Washington, D.C., that provides supervision and guidance to local educational agencies and support offices regarding the education and health needs of Washington State migrant children.

MEROThe Migrant Education Regional Offices are housed at three Educational Service Districts in Washington State (Anacortes, Wenatchee and Yakima) and are responsible to assist in the design and implementation of local migrant education programs.

MSDRThe Migrant Student Data and Recruitment Office, located in Sunnyside, has the responsibilities of maintaining the statewide Migrant Student Information System of migrant student’s academic and health data; statewide non-project identification and recruitment (I/R) efforts; and training of LEA staff of the MSIS and I/R.

HEALTHThe Washington State Migrant Education Health Office, located in Chelan, provides health services support statewide to meet the needs of eligible migrant students.

The Organization of Washington State Title I, Part C—Migrant Education Program

MERO 171, WenatcheeMERO 171, Wenatchee

MERO 105, YakimaMERO 105, Yakima

MERO 189, AnacortesMERO 189, Anacortes

MSDR, Sunnyside

MSDR, Sunnyside

HEALTH, Chelan

OSPI, Olympia

SEMY, Sunnyside

SEMY, Sunnyside

Office of Superintendent of Public InstructionDirector Migrant & Bilingual Education Programs:

Helen Malagon(360) 725-6147

Migrant Education Regional OfficesDirector: Thomas Romero, MERO 105 Yakima (509) 454-2854 Director: Ismael Vivanco, MERO 171 Wenatchee (509) 665-2615Director: Mary Kernel, MERO 189 Anacortes (360) 299-4047

Migrant Student Data and RecruitmentDirector: Lee Campos

(509) 837-2712

Secondary Education for Migrant YouthDirector: Linda Roberts(509) 836-7500

State Health ServicesDirector: Mike Taylor

(509) 682-0373

“Migratory child means a child –

(1) Who is a migratory agricultural worker or a migratory fisher; and

(2) Who, in the preceding 36 months, in order to accompany or join a parent, spouse, or guardian who is a migratory agricultural worker or a migratory fisher

– (i) Has moved from one school district to another * ;

*exceptions apply for moves within States comprised of a single school district and school districts of more than 15,000 square miles.

“Definition taken from Federal Register dated August 28, 2008”

WHO IS A MIGRATORY CHILD?

Effects of the Migrant Lifestyle on Children and Their Education

l Mobility

l Changing Schools

l Malnutrition

l Language Barriers

l Self-Esteem

l Caring for Siblings

l Housing

l Discrimination

l Drop Outs

IDENTIFICATION AND RECRUITMENT (I/R)

Identification means determining the location and presence of migrant children in a school district.

Recruitment means making contact with migrant families, explaining the Migrant Education Program, securing the necessary information to make a determination that the child is eligible for the Program, and recording the basis of the child’s eligibility on a Certificate of Eligibility. Upon successful recruitment of a migrant family, eligible children may be enrolled in the Washington State Migrant Education Program.

HOW ARE STUDENTS IDENTIFIED?

State Recruiters

Local Home Visitors

Title I Migrant Education

Program

SAMPLE ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS

When did YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MOVE into this area?

Purpose: Verify family has made a move within the last 3 years.

When did YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MOVE into this area?

Purpose: Verify family has made a move within the last 3 years.

Where did you move from?

Purpose: Verify that school district boundaries were crossed.

Where did you move from?

Purpose: Verify that school district boundaries were crossed.

What type of work did you come looking for?Purpose: Verify qualifying

employment was either sought or obtained.

What type of work did you come looking for?Purpose: Verify qualifying

employment was either sought or obtained.

Family May Qualify; Continue With Interview.

Family May Qualify; Continue With Interview.

What was the reason your family moved to this area?

Purpose: Verify one of the reasons was for employment.

What was the reason your family moved to this area?

Purpose: Verify one of the reasons was for employment. Family

Does Not Qualify.

Family Does

Not Qualify.