Migrant Education

The Migrant Program provides supplemental education and supportive services to families with children ages 3 to 21. These services help migratory children and youth meet high academic challenges by overcoming the obstacles created by frequent moves, educational disruption, cultural and language differences, and health-related problems. The Migrant Programs ensures that all migrant students reach challenging academic standards and graduate with a high school diploma (or complete a HSED) that prepares them for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment. Children and youth younger than 22 years who have not graduated from high school or do not hold a high school equivalency certificate may be eligible for the MEP if they have moved: across school district lines; within the last three years; with a parent/guardian or on his/her own; and to obtain qualifying temporary or seasonal agricultural or fishing employment The work must be directly related to the planting, cultivating, harvesting or processing of crops; the processing of dairy products, meats, fish or shellfish; or caring for livestock. There are no ethnic, national origin, income, or language requirements for the MEP. The Program has been at the Head Start Child & Family Development Center since 1994.

What Services are Offered?

The program operates a summer school program for four weeks in June. Classroom activities and curriculum focus on reading and math. A pre and post-assessment are completed in order to show growth during the four-week time period. Students have access to technology, emphasizing language, reading, and math development. Classrooms are staffed with certified teachers and highly qualified paraprofessionals. Backpacks and school supplies are provided to participating summer program students to prepare them for the regular school year. Transportation for summer school is provided for each child. Breakfast and lunch is served each day. Students from Hastings, Harvard, Sutton, and other surrounding communities attend summer school. The Migrant Program also operates after-school tutoring for Migrant students local school districts. Individual tutoring is offered on an as-needed basis. Parent liaisons complete home visits with migrant families where they provide resources and referrals. Interpretation for children at medical appointments, parent-teacher conferences, etc. is provided as needed, as well as transportation on an as-needed basis. Literacy materials are given to families in order to encourage literacy in the home. The Migrant Program collaborates with local public schools in order to ensure that Migrant students receive the best possible education. The Hastings Migrant Education Program project serves migrant students in the following counties: Adams, Clay, Webster, Nuckolls, Franklin, and Doniphan-Trumbull school district in Hall County. For more information please call (402)462-4187 or visit the following website: https://www.education.ne.gov/migrant/ Program Director: Kathleen Riley