Louisiana Migrant Education Program
WHAT IS THE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM?
The goal of the Louisiana Migrant Education Program (MEP) is to ensure that all migratory students reach challenging academic standards and graduate with a high school diploma (or obtain a high school equivalency) that prepares them for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment. The program works to ensure that migratory children fully benefit from the same public education provided to other children and that they master the educational content provided by local school districts. The program offers services to help reduce educational disruptions and other problems that can result from multiple moves.
What makes a child or youth eligible?
The Louisiana Migrant Education Program (MEP) has trained professionals to conduct outreach and enroll new students into the program. The criteria are:
The child or youth must have moved across state or school district lines within the last 36 months.
The child or youth, or his or her spouse, parent, guardian or immediate family member who has made the move must have engaged in qualifying work within the last 36 months.
Qualifying work is temporary or seasonal work in agriculture or fishing including, but not limited to:
o agriculture, fishing, and forestry/logging work
o vegetable/fruit harvesting and processing (strawberries, sugarcane, rice, corn, sweet potatoes, etc.)
o fish/shellfish harvesting and processing (shrimp, oysters, crawfish, etc.)
o food/meat/poultry processing
o dairy work
The child or youth must be younger than 22 years of age and eligible for free public education under State law.
Special needs of migratory children and youth:
Migratory children and youth face unique challenges which may lead to limited academic achievement and opportunities because their families move to follow growing seasons and new work. This movement interrupts a student’s education, sometimes multiple times within the same school year. Migratory youth often drop out of school to work and have limited access to educational and social services.
What does the program offer?
A variety of free educational services are available to eligible migratory students to help them overcome the challenges of a migratory lifestyle. Examples of possible services include, but are not limited to:
After school educational programs
Tutoring and homework help
Referrals to High School Equivalency Programs and English language programs
Free school lunches and other school meals
Summer educational or enrichment programs
Referral to credit recovery programs
Do I qualify?
Have you moved across parish or state lines in the past 36 months?
Do you have children ages birth to 21 years?
Are you currently working or seeking seasonal agricultural occupation?
If you answered “Yes” to the questions above contact the following:
Laurie Stewart
Louisiana Migrant Education Program
OSY & Secondary Services Coordinator/Statewide Recruiter
(225) 369-0560
Arcenia Anthony
Bossier Schools Homeless Migrant Liaison
(318) 549-6943