Migrant Education Programs and Services
Migrant Education supports programs designed to strengthen the school, community, and family experiences of children and their families. Programs are developed in collaboration with the school districts that enroll migratory students. These programs are designed, implemented, and evaluated through the collaborative efforts of the migrant education regional office and educators at the school and district levels. Every effort is made to base the content and methodology of the programs on the needs of migratory children and their families. The services focus on the themes of the NCLB legislation: standards and assessment; teaching and learning; professional growth and development; links among schools, families, and communities; and funding and governance. The programs are supplemental and intended to assist migratory students to succeed in their academic course work, improve staff's ability to teach migratory students effectively, and build a support network for educators, students, and their families. In Ventura County, the programs are operated by 13 school districts with approximately 100 schools.
The programs listed below are provided throughout the Region and are available to all eligible migratory children and/or their parents. More information about the programs is available from the Regional Office.
Migrant Saturday School Program:
The Migrant Education Saturday School Program (K-12) is provided for each of the participating districts during a regular school year. Students will attend from approximately 8: 00 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. Transportation and a nutrition program is provided.
Students will receive instruction on the Foundational Reading Skills, which students need to master to become proficient readers. Dual Language Instruction will be provided when needed to foster bilingualism, biliteracy which will enhance awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity.
Furthermore, students will read culturally authentic and responsive texts that link culture and self-identity lessons that further the student’s self-awareness and acceptance of their own culture.
Migrant Education School Readiness Program (MESRP):
The Region’s Migrant Education School Readiness Program (MESRP) is offered to eligible Migrant children ages 4 to 5 years. Focuses on the whole child to prepare them for successful participation in Kindergarten and later grades. Pre-Kindergarten students will learn literacy and numeracy concepts and other developmentally appropriate skills within the domains of learning in the California Preschool Learning Foundations: Language and Literacy; Mathematics; Social and Emotional Foundations; Physical Well-Being; Art; Motor Skills Development and so forth.
Parents will be invited to participate in the program alongside their child. Also, emphasis is on inquiry -based thinking and problem-solving across the curriculum, skills and processes are explicitly taught.
The Region will provide Migrant parents with training that supports early childhood development in Oral Language Development. The focus will be on primary language acquisition which includes reading literature that promotes literacy and language development as well as foundational skills. Activities that promote Mathematics, and Literacy as well as Social and Emotional Development will also be incorporated.
Pre-Kindergarten instruction will ensure that each student develops academic, social and emotional strategies and skills needed to participate responsibly in a diverse and changing world. MESRP will include integrated instruction, meta-cognition, and expressive language to prepare students as lifelong learners. In addition, instruction will support adjustments to the social setting of a formal classroom so that the student can attain the skills and knowledge of the curriculum while learning to function effectively. Lastly, the program will utilize a child-centered approach to ensure the child develops a love of learning.
Speech & Debate:
The Speech and Debate Tournament offers migrant students an opportunity to compete academically in a safe and supportive environment. The tournament requires migrant students to sharpen their critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills. In addition, students must carefully organize information to develop compelling arguments and clearly express their thoughts and ideas grounding them in credible sources. Finally, the Speech and Debate Tournament fosters teamwork and self-confidence and teaches students to resolve conflicts using thoughtful and strategic language.
Coaches attend professional development sessions at which they explore the speech and debate topics and gain knowledge on numerous tools, strategies and techniques to utilize during preparation sessions with students.
MiniCorps Program:
This program provides tutoring to migratory students to give them the academic and social support they need to succeed in their course work and stay in school. The tutors come from a migrant family background and are full-time college students who are pursuing teaching credentials. Mini-Corps tutors work with migratory students during the school year and summer school as role models to strengthen their relationships among students, teachers, family members, and members of the community.
Cyber High (online learning):
Creates pathways to success through standards-based, digital curriculum that fosters critical thinking, provides active and collaborative learning opportunities and engages students in rigorous coursework. Courses are designed to enhance analytical and problem-solving skills, to increase graduation rates, to prepare students for online testing and to promote college and career readiness.