• Our district's Migrant Program provides services to students in our district whom have been identified as Migrant. You will find our support services programs and staff work closely with all district staff, parents and the community to address the unique needs of migrant students and students from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds to assist them in achieving high academic and performance standards and graduate with a high school diploma that prepares them for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment. I encourage you to stop by our Migrant and Bilingual Program Services office located at the Othello School Districts Administrative Offices at 1025 South First St. to learn more about our program services.

    The Migrant Education Program is authorized under Part C of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended. Federal funds are allocated to OSPI based on per pupil expenditure for education and counts of eligible migratory children, ages 3 to 21, residing within the state. OSPI authorizes the sub-grants to local education agencies (school districts), institutions of higher education and other public and non-profit agencies.

    Who is A Migrant Student?

    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:
      • Has moved from one school district to another*; or
      • 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”

    How Are Students Identified as Migrant?

    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.

    What is a Priority for Service Migrant Student (PFS)?

    “Section 1304(d) of the statute [Public Law 107-110, Title I, Part C] gives priority for services to migrant children: (1) who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet the State’s challenging State academic content standards and challenging State student academic achievement standards, and (2) whose education has been interrupted during the regular school year.”1 (Emphasis added.)

    What Services does the Othello School District Provide for PFS Students?

    Each of our secondary schools has a Migrant Graduation Specialist assigned to work with the PFS students, school staff, and parents. The Migrant Graduation Specialist (MGS) or Migrant Student Advocate (MSA) is a special position funded at the local level by the Title I, Part C, Migrant Education Program.

    Migrant Graduation Specialists will work in OSD schools, with staff, parents, students, and the community to ensure that: services in the building are accessible to migrant students, support in the home, school and community is evident, a strong relationship amongst all stakeholders is nurtured, and students set goals, improve academic performance, graduate and plan postsecondary success.

    At the elementary buildings the Othello School District funds a full time Home Liaison position to work with families of elementary PFS students. The HL staff visits PFS families in the home. The HL will work with staff, parents, students, and the community to ensure that: services in the building are accessible to migrant students, support in the home, school and community is evident, a strong relationship amongst all stakeholders is nurtured, and students set goals, and improve academic performance.

    What Health Services Does the Othello School District Migrant Services Provide?

    The Washington State Migrant Education Health Program provides health care services to migrant students because of our strong belief that healthy students are more likely to reach their fullest educational potential. Twice a year the OSD and the Title I Migrant Education Health Program provides health exams for Migrant students who have not had a health physical during their years of Migrant eligibility.