Our Mission and Services

Mission Statement:
Migrant Education, Region 23, through its dedicated and committed staff, will provide supplemental services that encourage educational opportunities leading to empowerment and success in the lives of migrant students and their families.

What We Do
The services provided by Migrant Education are based on the needs of migrant students and the available resources in the district. Each district designs a supplemental service plan that will best complement the district’s educational plan to provide maximum academic growth opportunities for migrant students. Some of the programs that Migrant Education has provided include:

• Supplemental Services - From September 2007 through June 2008, more than 16,000 migrant children ages preschool to 22 years were identified. 7,566 students received supplemental services during the summer.
• RIF Grants (Reading is Fundamental) – Over 35,000 books were distributed to preschool and elementary age migrant students.

• MEES program (Migrant Education Even Start) Home Tutoring – Weekly home tutoring with age-appropriate curriculum was provided to 432 children ages 3-5 who are not in preschool centers. All other students participated in First Five preschool programs.

• Experience in Democracy – 90 high school students were selected to travel to Washington D.C. to learn about their government and their roles as leaders and advocates in their home communities.
• University Jumpstart- 31 students participated in this nine month program designed to give high school Migrant students a hands on experience about what it takes to get to a four year college or university. Students participated in academic preparation and their parents gained valuable skills in communication, advocacy, and a solid orientation college life.
• Migrant Youth Conferences – Over 320 youth attended the student conferences at area colleges and universities.
• UCLA – Students participated in classes and training that focused on topics of interest for their communities. Students learned about teamwork, as well as how to be leaders in their schools and communities.
• Scholarships – Migrant graduates received more than $1,000,000 in scholarships and grants to help them pursue a higher education.
• Artistas del Sol – This creative program was offered at the Artessi Labor Camps in French Camp, CA. Student participants explored elements and principles of design in order to create a well balanced finished piece of original art. The program included educational excursions to museums, visited murals in the community, and met with guest artists.
• Mini Corp Outdoor Education – Fourth and fifth grade students spent five days in the California Sierra. They brought their text book knowledge of science and applied some of the laws learned in the classroom while exploring nature. Students developed team building skills, communication skills, all in a safe and creative environment.
• Speech and Debate – High school students met after school and sharpened their skills and techniques for public speaking and debate. 12 students took their talents to the Ventura County Speech and Debate Conference and came home with two trophies.
• Migrant Graduation Ceremony – 367 Migrant students graduated from our local high schools and celebrated this accomplishment at a ceremony at Micke Grove Park in Lodi. The wonderful event was attended by community members and hundreds of family members.

• Out of School Youth (OSY) - Young adults were enrolled in ESL and GED programs. Many others received program information and a kit that included toiletries, a pocket translator, and dictionary. Through a 2008 grant with University of California at Davis, a safety awareness information campaign was initiated. A fotonovela was designed to help address health and safety issues for young migrant farm workers. More than 4,000 fotonovelas will have been distributed to OSY youth by June, 2009.
• I.N.E.A. Tutors (National Institute for the Education of Adults) – Currently we have the Plaza Comunitaria de Benito Juarez where the National Institute for the Education of Adults program is available. Migrant parents and young adults over the age of 15 are enrolled in the center at the Artessi Labor Camp #3 in French Camp to improve their literacy skills.
• Life skills workshops are being implemented to further address the on-going, multi-layered needs of the Out of School Youth population.

• Parent involvement ensures healthy relationships between parents and their students.
• Facilitates advisory committees at the district and regional levels.
• Provides leadership skills building for migrant parents.
• Provides workshops and conferences focusing on parent student relationships and better understanding of how the educational system works.
• 689 Parents participated in workshops and trainings in 2007-2008 that addressed their roles as strong advocates in the lives of their students in areas such as academic schedules, graduation requirements, health, nutrition, and effective communication as a parent.