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.

Department of Education: Title 1 Part C Migrant Education Program

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.

OSPIThe 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.

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.

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

HEALTHThe Washington State Migrant Education Health Office, located in Wenatchee, 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, Wenatchee

MERO 105, Yakima

MERO 189, Anacortes

MSDR, Sunnyside

HEALTH, Chelan

OSPI, Olympia

SEMY, Sunnyside

Office of Superintendent of Public InstructionInterim Director 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

According to sections 1115(b)(1)(A) (incorporated into the MEP program by virtue of sections 1304(c)(2)) and 1309(2) of the statute and §§ 200.81(e) and 200.103(a) of the regulations, a child is a “migratory child” and is eligible for MEP services if all of the following conditions are met:  1. The child is not older than 21 years of age; and 2. The child is entitled to a free public education (through grade 12) under State law or is below the age of compulsory school attendance; and 3. The child is a migratory agricultural worker or a migratory fisher, or the child has a parent, spouse, or guardian who is a migratory agricultural worker or a migratory fisher; and 4. The child moved within the preceding 36 months in order to seek or obtain qualifying work, or to accompany or join the migratory agricultural worker or migratory fisher identified in paragraph 3, above, in order to seek or obtain qualifying work; and 5. With regard to the move identified in paragraph 4, above, the child:  a. Has moved from one school district to another*; or b. In a State that is comprised of a single school district, has moved from one administrative area to another within such district.

“Definition taken from Federal Register dated August 2010”

Effects of the Migrant Lifestyle on Children and Their Educationl Mobility Changing

Schools

l Language Barriersl Self-Esteeml Caring for Siblings

l Housingl Discrimination

l Drop Outs Malnutrition

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.

HOW ARE STUDENTS IDENTIFIED?

State Recruiters

Local Recruiters

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.

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.

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. Family

Does Not Qualify.