Overview of the Washington State Migrant Education Program

1. Overview of the Washington State Migrant Education Program MSDR Office 810-B East Custer Avenue Sunnyside, WA 98944 www.msdr.org

2. 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.

3. GENERAL MEP INFORMATION The statutory purposes of the MEP set forth in Section 1301 are to: 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 services (including supportive services) that address their special needs in a coordinated and efficient manner; 4. Ensure that migrant children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards that all children are expected to meet; 5. 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.

4. Funding for Title I, Part C—Migrant Education Program

5. OSPI The Washington State Migrant Education Program, located in Olympia, is a federally funded program through the Office of Migrant Education in Washington, D.C., that provides supervision and guidance to local education agencies and support offices regarding the education and health needs of Washington State migrant children. MERO The 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. MSDR The 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. SEMY The Secondary Education for Migrant Youth Office, located in Sunnyside, is a statewide office supports school districts with education needs of secondary migrant students. HEALTH The Washington State Migrant Education Health Office, located in Wenatchee, provides health services support statewide to meet the needs of eligible migrant students.

6. The Organization of Washington State Title I, Part C—Migrant Education Program MERO 189, Anacortes HEALTH, Chelan OSPI, Olympia MERO 171, Wenatchee MERO 105, Yakima MSDR, Sunnyside SEMY, Sunnyside

7. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Interim Director Migrant & Bilingual Education Programs: Helen Malagon (360) 725-6147 Migrant Education Regional Offices Director: Thomas Romero, MERO 105 Yakima (509) 454-2854 Director: Ismael Vivanco, MERO 171 Wenatchee (509) 665-2615 Director: Mary Kernel, MERO 189 Anacortes (360) 299-4047 Migrant Student Data and Recruitment Director: Lee Campos (509) 837-2712 Secondary Education for Migrant Youth Director: Linda Roberts (509) 836-7500 State Health Services Director: Mike Taylor (509) 682-0373

9. “Migratory child means a child – • Who is a migratory agricultural worker or a migratory fisher; or • (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”

10. Effects of the Migrant Lifestyle on Children and Their Education l Mobility lLanguage Barriers lHousing lChanging Schools l Self-Esteem lDiscrimination lMalnutrition lCaring for Siblings l Drop Outs

11. How Are Students Identified? State Recruiters IDENTIFICATION AND RECRUITMENT (I/R) Identification means determining the location and presence of migrant children. Recruitment means making contact with migrant families, explaining the Migrant Education Program (MEP), securing the necessary information to make a determination that the child is eligible for the MEP, and recording the basis of the child’s eligibility on a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Upon successful recruitment of a migrant family, eligible children may be enrolled in the MEP. Local Home Visitors

12. When did YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MOVE into this area? Purpose: Verify family has made a move within the last 3 years. NO Where did you move from? Purpose: Verify that school district boundaries were crossed. NO YES What was the reason your family moved to this area? Purpose: Verify one of the reasons was for employment. NO Family Does Not Qualify. YES What type of work did you come looking for? Purpose: Verify qualifying employment was either sought or obtained. NO YES Family May Qualify; Continue With Interview. Title I Migrant Education ProgramSAMPLE ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS YES