Migrant students are the school-aged children of seasonal workers traveling to Delaware each year for agricultural work. Many migrant families stay in Delaware a few months at a time before returning to their home states. While in Delaware, migrant children attend Delaware schools. These children face unique educational barriers as a result of multiple family moves.
The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) oversees several services for migrant students, including:
- Identification and recruitment
- Summer programs in Kent and Sussex counties focused on academics, English language acquisition, and creating life-enriching experiences
- Advocacy within the school system
- Referrals to other community services
DDOE also oversees the federally funded Migrant Education Program (MEP) in Delaware under Title 1, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The purposes of this program are to:
- Assist states in supporting high-quality and comprehensive educational programs and services during the school year and, as applicable, during summer or intersession periods, that address the unique educational needs of migratory children.
- Ensure that migratory children who move among the states are not penalized in any manner by disparities among the states in curriculum, graduation requirements, and challenging state academic standards.
- Ensure that migratory children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging state academic standards that all children are expected to meet.
- Help migratory 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 succeed in school.
- Help migratory children benefit from state and local systemic reforms.
Migrant Education Program
DDOE also oversees the federally funded Migrant Education Program (MEP) in Delaware under Title 1, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The purposes of this program are to:
- Assist states in supporting high-quality and comprehensive educational programs and services during the school year and, as applicable, during summer or intersession periods, that address the unique educational needs of migratory children.
- Ensure that migratory children who move among the states are not penalized in any manner by disparities among the states in curriculum, graduation requirements, and challenging state academic standards.
- Ensure that migratory children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging state academic standards that all children are expected to meet.
- Help migratory 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 succeed in school.
- Help migratory children benefit from state and local systemic reforms.
Migrant Education Program Resources
Migrant Health Services
Westside Family Healthcare is a nonprofit health center with locations in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties in Delaware. This organization offers family medical, OB/GYN, behavioral health, and dental care services for individuals of all ages. Quality healthcare services are offered to all patients, regardless of ability to pay.
Partnering Organizations
Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors is the nation’s first evidence-based comprehensive training program developed by and for Latino parents with children ages 0-5.
La Esperanza is the only bi-cultural and bilingual 501(c)(3) multi-service agency in Sussex County, Delaware that provides free culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services in the areas of family development, immigration, victim services, and education for Hispanic adults, children and families.
La Red Health Center’s provides quality patient-centered care to the diverse communities.
Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association of Delaware – Vegetables and fruits grown for the fresh market include watermelons, cantaloupes, sweet corn, cabbage, green beans, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins, peaches, apples, and strawberries. Delaware is a major watermelon producing region and there are 3000 acres in the state.
Related Resource Websites
Identification & Recruitment Rapid Response Consortium (IRRC) – Delaware is a member state of IRRC, which provides access to specialized resources, strategies, best practices, and creative solutions whose purpose is to improve and enhance identification and recruitment activities.
Interstate Migrant Education Council (IMEC) – Advocates for the highest-quality education and other needed supports for the nation’s migratory children and youth.
Eastern Stream Center on Resources and Training (ESCORT) – Provides customized services including professional development: training, coaching, and consulting and identification and recruitment: development of identification and recruitment systems, staff development, and quality control.
Migrant Literacy Net – Provides teachers with tools for quickly assessing and providing supplemental research-based literacy lessons and online tutorials to students in grades K-12 and out of school youth (OSY) to improve their foundational literacy skills.
US Office of Migrant Education – Provides related information regarding the federal Migrant Education Program (MEP) as well as the High School Equivalency Program (HEP), which helps migratory and seasonal farmworkers (or children of such workers) who are 16 years of age or older obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma.
Contact Information:
For questions regarding the Migrant Education Program, send an email to Charita Jackson-Durosinmi or call 302-857-3333.
