Migrant Services

The Migrant Extended Day (MED) program provides after-school support in ELA and math to approximately 350-400 1st–6th grade migratory students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards.

MED runs Mondays through Wednesdays, 2:30–5:30 p.m., at six schools with the highest concentrations of migrant students: Adam, Alvin, Battles, Bruce, Libbon, and Miller Elementary. Each day, students receive 40 minutes of ELA, 40 minutes of math, and 10 minutes of interactive i-Ready math instruction, totaling over 30 hours of supplemental learning. Students develop skills in reading, writing, language, comprehension and  engage with expository texts, write using grade-level rubrics, and strengthen essential math skills.

The program integrates ELD best practices, aligns with California Common Core Standards, and uses Benchmark Advanced/StudySync for ELA and i-Ready for math. The MED program  also provides time for homework and a healthy meal before instruction begins, creating a supportive, structured, and welcoming learning environment.

If you know a student who could benefit from this program, or if you have any questions, please contact Martha Ronson at (805) 361-8197.

The Migrant Saturday School program provides academic support for migrant students, including English learners, newcomers, and students in grades Preschool–8, in English Language Arts, English Language Development (ELD), Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and math. The program targets key skills in ELD, reading (phonemic awareness and phonics), writing, and math (concepts, procedures, problem solving, data analysis, and reasoning). Newly arrived students who have not previously attended U.S. schools receive specialized instruction and resources to develop English proficiency.

Saturday School runs 4.5 hours per week for 22 Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., with breakfast provided from 8:00–8:30 a.m. Each session includes 90 minutes of ELA/ELD, 90 minutes of math, 30 minutes of DreamBox math, 30 minutes of SEL, and 15 minutes each for lunch and recess, totaling 88 instructional hours. Transportation is provided for all students.

Students from 17 elementary schools and 4 junior highs are expected to attend, with a goal of serving 500 migrant students. The program aims to improve reading comprehension, expository writing, math problem solving, data modeling, and overall academic proficiency.

If you know a student who could benefit from this program, or if you have any questions, please contact Martha Ronson at (805) 361-8197.
 

During the school year, our Migrant Education Program provides high-quality preschool experiences for migratory children ages 3–5 through afternoon and Saturday sessions. The program focuses on five key developmental areas: social/emotional, cognitive/biliteracy, gross/fine motor skills, health/safety, and language development.

Saturday classes run 3.5 hours per day for 22 weeks, serving 50–60 children with separate classes for 3-year-olds and 4–5-year-olds preparing for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten. A virtual School Readiness Program also serves 72 three- and four-year-olds, offering seven weeks of twice-weekly, 1.5-hour classes in the fall and spring. Instruction focuses on language, literacy, math, and motor development. Each class is staffed by a credentialed teacher and bilingual instructional assistant, and students receive backpacks, Chromebooks, hotspots, and instructional materials to support learning at home.

Both programs follow Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Pre-K Learning and Development Guidelines, and the California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations. They use a bilingual/bicultural approach, promote academic, social, and behavioral growth, and provide an excellent opportunity for young learners to begin learning at home, building the foundation for future academic success.

For questions or to enroll a student to this program, please contact Martha Ronson at (805)361-8197. 
 

Migrant students in grades 6–8 will develop communication, research, public speaking, and critical thinking skills through the Saturday School Speech and Debate program. Fifty students—25 in Speech and 25 in Debate—will receive instruction in reading, writing, academic language, and argumentation in both English and Spanish.

Classes meet 11 Saturdays in the Fall and 11 in the Spring. Twenty students will compete in a local tournament, and after extensive practice and training, 16 will advance to the Statewide Migrant Speech & Debate Tournament.

If this program sounds like a great fit for your student, or for more information, please contact Eduardo Panting at (805) 361-8190.
 

The Migrant Education Program Summer School provides extended learning opportunities for students in preschool through eight-grade students who are served by the migrant program. Students will receive at least 20 hours of English Language Arts (ELA) instruction guided by a writing rubric that includes reading at least two expository texts and writing in at least two different genres. In addition, students will receive a minimum of 20 hours of mathematics instruction.

The program will integrate English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) standards while supporting English Language Development (ELD) through research-based best practices. Students will receive high-quality Tier 1, grade-level instruction using the district’s adopted core curriculum, including Benchmark Advanced and i-Ready for grades K–5, and Middle School Math for grades 6–8. Approved supplemental curriculum will also be used to enhance learning. Integrated ELD instruction will be provided through the district’s curriculum, which is aligned with the California ELD Standards and includes built-in scaffolds to support multilingual learners.

This year’s summer school program will take place at Oakley Elementary from July 13 through July 31, 2026. We anticipate serving approximately 600–700 migrant students from preschool through 8th grade. School doors will open at 7:30 a.m. to welcome students and provide a healthy breakfast for those who arrive early. Classes will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 12:00 p.m. for preschool students and at 1:00 p.m. for students in TK through 8th grade. Breakfast, lunch, and transportation will be provided for all participating students.

The Migrant Education program offers fun and enriching summer preschool experiences for migratory children ages 3–5, designed to spark curiosity and support growth in social/emotional, cognitive/biliteracy, motor, health/safety, and language skills. Separate classes are offered for 3-year-olds and 4–5-year-olds preparing for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten, with instruction emphasizing language, literacy, math, and motor skill development through a bilingual and bicultural approach. 

For children unable to attend in-person, a virtual School Readiness Program will reach 110–120 three- and four-year-olds with 10 days of two-hour interactive classes alongside parents. The program focuses on vocabulary, age-appropriate milestones, and foundational academic skills, and provides backpacks, Chromebooks, hotspots, and instructional materials to ensure every child can participate fully. The curriculum follows best practices in early childhood education and includes engaging parent-child learning experiences that make each day exciting and meaningful. Both in-person and virtual programs create a joyful and supportive learning environment that fosters academic, social, and emotional growth, preparing children for a confident start to school.

One hundred migrant students in fourth through sixth grade will have the opportunity to participate in the Science Outdoor Program, Camp KEEP, at Rancho El Chorro in San Luis Obispo. The program is sponsored by the Butte County Office of Education–California MiniCorp and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and will last for five days and four nights. Through hands-on, experiential learning in a natural outdoor setting, students will develop knowledge in science and environmental education aligned with the California State Science Framework, California Academic Content Standards for Science, and the Visual and Performing Arts Framework. Each participating student will receive a sleeping bag and instructional materials to enhance and extend their outdoor learning experiences.

Camp KEEP is expected to take place in June 2026. If you would like to sign up a student or need  more information, please contact Alejandra Villalpando-Ruvalcaba at (805) 361-8195.

Fifty migrant students will have the opportunity to attend the Algebra Academy at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), organized by Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation (Y2LEF). The Academy is a residential program designed to help students strengthen their algebra skills while focusing on college readiness and participating in cultural awareness activities. This program is especially valuable for migrant students, offering a chance to build confidence in mathematics, experience college life, and develop skills that support both academic and personal growth.

Algebra Academy 2026 will be taking place June 2026, you would like to sign up a student or need  more information,  please contact Mariana Valencia at (805) 361-7688.

During the summer, forty eighth-grade migrant students will have the opportunity to participate in the Washington, D.C. Close Up Program. This program provides students with a unique opportunity to visit the nation’s capital and gain a deeper understanding of the United States government and civic engagement.
Students participate in educational activities, discussions, and guided tours of historical landmarks and government institutions.

The program promotes leadership development, civic responsibility, and a deeper understanding of the democratic process. Through this experience, students expand their knowledge of history, government, and public policy while also developing skills in communication, critical thinking, and civic participation. 

The Migrant Education Program offers parents the opportunity to participate in the Migrant Education Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). This committee provides a valuable space for parents to become actively involved in the program, share their input, and learn more about the services available to support their children.

The main purpose of the Santa Maria-Bonita School District Migrant Education Program Parent Advisory Council (MEP-PAC) is to encourage parent involvement in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Migrant Education Program (MEP) activities that support students from migratory families. The council also reviews the program’s annual needs assessment to help evaluate the effectiveness of services and provide input for the Migrant Education Program’s yearly funding application. This work supports the district’s mission and vision for student success.

The council advises the district on MEP goals, objectives, and priorities that support migrant students in meeting state academic standards. Members review program data and provide recommendations for the annual Migrant Education Program application and services offered to students. The council represents the interests of migrant students and families in the district and fulfills responsibilities outlined in state and federal laws. 

The Migrant Education Program  offers up to six parent education workshops per year covering topics such as literacy, math, health, internet safety, community resources, and strategies to support learning at home. Topics are selected based on parent input through the Parent Advisory Council (PAC).

MEP also partners with the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) to provide two parent engagement session to 100 parents during eight weeks session during the Fall and another eight weeks session during the Spring. Migrant parents will be meeting with PIQE instructors using a hybrid model (2 in person sessions and 6 sessions via Zoom).

PIQE is a national organization with evidence-based programs that engage, empower and transform parents to actively advocate and engage in their children’s education and strengthen parent-school collaboration by providing empowering information, skills development and support systems to families. PIQE will provide "The Academic Foundation" curriculum which includes the following topics:

• Understanding the importance of building positive relations with their child's school
• Establish Collaboration Between Home, School and Community
• Fostering Self-Esteem and Academic Achievement
• Positive Discipline
• Understanding the School System
• College Requirements
• School Counselors
• School portal Preparation Classes
• and Parents' Responsibility to Support the Education of their children.

During the Fall PIQE will focus on the Elementary workshops where parents gain new skills, tools, and resources to help their student(s) succeed in school today and into the future. Educates, empowers, and inspires families to take an active role in their child’s education while building community and a peer-to-peer network.  The program is designed to develop skills and techniques which will empower migrant parents to address the educational needs of their school-aged children and to know how the school system work in the U.S.  Child care will be provided.

In addition, Migrant Education will contract the services from The California Math Festival Program, which exposes students and their families to critical mathematics topics in a positive, hands-on, festival-like atmosphere.

At The Family Mathematics Festival, students of all ages and their parents will work side-by-side doing challenging mathematics using everything from beans to balances to solve engaging and challenging problems while providing an example of Common Core Standards. The Math Festival has activities that include: Algebra, Geometry, and Numbers.

In addition, the California Math Festival Program provides parents with a Math at Home parent guide that contains straight-forward information, practical suggestions, and resources for families who wish to better understand the importance of mathematics and the role they can play in helping children learn this critical subject.

The MEP DFD 22 will also provide the Annual Family Literacy Conference for MEP families. The one day conference will present parent education information on topics such as: strategies for parent involvement, understanding student achievement data, and understanding the technology to communicate with teachers, principals, school nurses, and school counselors. This one day conference will be held at a school site facilitated by our Santa Maria-Bonita School District and feature a keynote speaker of relevance. MEP children from all 21 school sites will be invited to participate in enrichment activities with a cultural awareness/competency focus while parents attend the conference workshops.

Teachers will provide an overview of the logistics of the Migrant Family Conference and review the ELA/Math activities for children with Student Supervision Aides.  All migratory parents and children from DFD 22 will be invited to participate in the local family literacy conference.

The Family Literacy Conference will be held in an in-person setting with special guests and keynote speaker to motivate and engage parents in the education and development of their children's education. Immediately following the keynote speaker, parents will be able to attend different workshops sessions offering important school/community information and resources to empower and equip our migrant parents in to becoming actively involved in their children's education. Families can visit the community-based organization booths.