LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, QUACKS LIKE A DUCK BUT COULD BE A GATOR SHARPENING YOUR SKILLS IN DETERMINING IF A CHILD IS MEP ELIGIBLE
DO YOU KNOW ME? I may not start school at the beginning of the school year. I may live with my extended family since my parents are working out of state. I may leave school before the end of the school year. I am really smart but you may not know it. I may travel during the school year but it is not for vacation.
IDENTIFICATION Actively looking for and finding migrant children and youth
RECRUITMENT Making contact with the family or youth and obtaining the necessary information to document the child s eligibility and enroll the child in the MEP
THE FIVE R S Recruiter s Role Recruiter s Instinct Resources Requirements Relevant Information
MIGRANT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Agricultural Work Fishing Work In Order to Obtain Migratory Agricultural Worker Migratory Child
MIGRANT TERMS AN DEFINITIONS Move or Moved Migratory Fisher Personal Subsistence Qualifying Work Seasonal Employment Temporary Employment
THE 5 FACTORS FOR ELIGIBILITY AGE: The child is younger than 22 years of age. QUALIFYING WORK: Temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work. SCHOOL COMPLETION: The child is eligible for a free public education (no HS diploma or GED). IN ORDER TO OBTAIN: One purpose of the worker s move was to seek or obtain qualifying work. MOVE: The child and worker moved. 9
MOVE The child moved: With or to join the worker, or on own as worker From one school district to another Change of residence For economic necessity Within the past 36 months 10
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN One purpose of the move was to seek or obtain qualifying work. Worker moved: To obtain qualifying work and obtained qualifying work To obtain any employment and obtained qualifying work, soon after the move Specifically to obtain qualifying work, but did not obtain the work soon after the move, but there is other credible evidence that worker sought the work OR a prior history of moves to obtain qualifying work 11
QUALIFYING WORK IS For Wages OR Personal Subsistence In Fishing OR Agriculture Seasonal OR Temporary Employment 12
QUALIFYING WORK CONTINUED Seasonal employment Occurs only during a certain part of the year because of the cycles of nature May not be continuous or carried on throughout the year 13
QUALIFYING WORK CONTINUED Temporary employment lasts for a limited period of time, usually a few months, but no longer than 12 months. It is determined based on one of the following EMPLOYER S STATEMENT e.g., the employer hires the worker for October, November, and December to prepare for the holiday season. WORKER S STATEMENT e.g., the worker states that he plans to leave the job after a period of four months. SEA DOCUMENTATION The SEA has determined that, despite the apparent permanency of work at a particular worksite, virtually none of the workers remain employed for more than 12 months. 14
QUALIFYING WORK CONTINUED Production or Initial Processing Cultivation or Harvesting Catching or Initial Processing; Raising or Harvesting at fish farms Crops Trees Fish Dairy Products Shellfish Poultry Livestock 15
SCENARIO 1 Ruben Gomez and his sons, Andy, 17, and Rudy,15, arrived in your community. The family has a long history of moves for seasonal agricultural work. They moved from Tucson, AZ to obtain seasonal employment picking tomatoes but could not find work due to a drought that had limited the field work available. Mr. Gomez, instead, found temporary work with a construction company. He enrolled Andy and Rudy in school shortly after they arrived. One year later, Ruben and his sons were hired by farmer in Avondale, AZ to fertilize cotton. Are the Gomez children eligible for MEP services? Why or why not?
SCENARIO 2 On October 20 th of last year, Juan Moreno, his wife and two children, ages 9 and 13, moved from Simpson, PA to Yuma, AZ because Juan s sister said there were employment opportunities. Mr. Moreno found work in the lettuce fields. The employer said he only needs Mr. Moreno for five months. A year later, the recruiter returned to speak with the family and learned that Mr. Moreno continued to work for the farmer but his responsibilities changed. Are the Moreno children eligible for MEP Services? Why or why not?
SCENARIO 3 On April 1 st of this year, David and Kathleen, both 20 years old, and their son John, 3 years old, moved to Beardstown, IL from Hope, AR looking for any work. Both David and Kathleen dropped out of high school in 10 th grade to support their family. When they arrived in Beardstown, David found part-time, night work as a janitor at the melon packing shed. Kathleen found work cleaning houses. Does anyone in the family qualify for MEP services? Why or why not?
SCENARIO 4 In March of this year, the Beko family moved from Silverton, OR, to work at a dairy farm near Gila Bend, AZ. The dairy farm owner said that the work was expected to last three months. The parents will be feeding and milking cows, cleaning stalls and other duties. The family typically moves to do this type of work. The Bekos take their three children, Jason, 18, Fabian, 14, and Melisa, 10, with them when they move. The parents enrolled Fabian and Melisa in School. Jason worked with his parents on the farm. Do the children qualify for MEP services? Why or why not?
SCENARIO 5 Michael Adams lives in Tacoma, WA, with his wife and four children, all under age 18. On June 5 th of this year, Michael moved to Homer, AK, to obtain seasonal employment as a salmon fisherman. The children were enrolled in the district s summer school program I Tacoma so they did not travel with dad. Mr. Adams moved back home on September 13 th. The following day, Michael returned to his other job as a bus driver for the school district. Do the Adams children qualify for MEP services? Why or why not?
SCENARIO 6 A worker moved from Houston, Mississippi, to Brooklet, Georgia, with his wife and two children, ages 6 and 9, to harvest peanuts. He was especially excited to move to Brooklet because his older brother and his family live there as well. He knew that his children were looking forward to spending time with their cousins. Once the harvest is over, both families will travel together to Mexico and spend the holidays together. The worker began work the day after the family arrived. Do the children qualify for MEP services? Why or why not?
SCENARIO 7 A family moved from Burley, ID, to San Marcos, TX. The family told the recruiter that in the past they thinned and harvested sugar beets. Their move to San Marcos will allow them to be close to their extended family and they plan to find whatever work is available, even returning to the fields to work. The family has heard about the MEP and feel their children, ages 7 and 10, qualify for the program. Do the children qualify for MEP services? Why or why not?
SCENARIO 8 In October last year, Jose Agundez and his son Roberto, age 17, moved from Fallon, NV, to Orange Cove, CA, to pick oranges and lemons. They continue moving, living in various towns, such as Orosi, Reedley, Dinuba, and other communities close to Orange Cove, to pick the citrus crop. In December, Jose found housing in nearby, Cutler, CA. During this time Roberto has not attended school. Once in Cutler, his wife, Kimberly and two other children, ages 13 and 10, moved from Nevada to join Jose and Roberto. Later in the month, Kimberly took a job pruning grapes. A recruiter interviewed the family. Do the children qualify for MEP services? Why or why not?
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO REMEMBER OUR HISTORY
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO TURN OUR DREAMS INTO REALITY
THANK YOU!
CONTACT INFORMATION Mary Frances Haluska, M. Ed. State Migrant Education Program Director State Migrant ID&R Coordinator MSIX State User Administrator Arizona Department of Education 1535 W. Jefferson St. Bin #14 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phone: 602.542.5169 Fax: 602.542.3100 Cell: 623.760.4327 Mary.Haluska@azed.gov Physical Address: 3300 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012