PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
CHARLIE CRIST
BERNARDO A. GARCIA, CHIEF
Commissioner
BUREAU OF SCHOOL SAFETY
AND SCHOOL SUPPORT
MEMORANDUM
TO
: Title I/Migrant Coordinators
FROM:
Rony Joseph
DATE:
November 14, 2002
SUBJECT:
Migrant Education Program Needs Assessment
This correspondence is a follow-up to our memorandum, dated August 21, 2002, and the e-mail message
to you, dated October 11, 2002, concerning the State Migrant Education Comprehensive Needs
Assessment. The intent is to provide you with additional information that will further clarify the issues
that were discussed at the two recent regional workshops.
1.
The selection of the five State goals for the Migrant Education Program was based on the analysis of
available data and consideration of the consensual understandings gleaned from discussions during
meetings of the Migrant Advisory Council and the Migrant Parent Advisory Council. We have
shared the data with you via electronic mail. If you have not received the tables and would like
copies, you may call us at (850) 487-3530.
2.
The districts’ needs assessments will serve as the basis for Migrant Education fund allocations for the
2003-2004 fiscal year. We will review them and give you feedback. As we shared with you at the
workshops, the following will guide that first review:
a.
We will not review the districts’ needs assessments for monetary figures during the first
phase of review. However, you will need to submit a budget with your final document.
b.
The five State-identified goals must have been addressed. Any other goals that you may have
proposed must be supported by quantitative evidence.
c.
The document submitted includes 1) the results of the needs assessment in support of each
prioritized goal, 2) services that will be provided to achieve each goal, 3) measures that will
be used to assess whether or not each goal was reached and 4) evidence that priority of
services is ensured for migratory children who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet
the challenging State academic content standards and challenging student academic
achievement standards, and whose education has been interrupted during the regular school
year.
PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
d.
Migrant Education Program
November 6, 2002
Page 2
3.
Regarding identification and recruitment (ID&R), local operating agencies (LOAs) that receive funds
under Title I, Part C, must continue to identify migratory children and youth for the following
reasons:
a.
The State must report annually to the USDE Secretary the number of identified eligible
migratory children aged 3 through 21, residing in the State during the previous year and the
number served during summer/intercession.
b.
Under Title I, Part A, the State must disaggregate its assessment results by six specific
categories, one of them being migrant status, which implies accurate identification and
recruitment of migrant students.
c.
The 2002-2003 migrant allocations to the State Educational Agencies (SEA) will serve as a
base amount for subsequent allocations. However, any additional funds appropriated by
Congress will be allocated to SEAs based on a formula that will include the number of the
State’s identified eligible migratory children.
d.
It is a given that, beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the State will allocate migrant
funds to LOAs based on identified and documented needs. A simple question that one should
ask to justify the requirement to actively recruit and identify migrant students is the
following: How may an LOA assess and document the needs of migratory children that it
does not identify and report to the State?
e.
District school superintendents are required under Florida Statutes to cooperate with other
agencies in identifying and reporting to the Florida Department of Education the name of
each child in the school district who qualifies according to the definition of a migratory child
and such other information as may be prescribed by the department (F.S. Sec. 1001.51(13).
4.
Based on the reasons listed above, it is evident that LOAs are allowed to use migrant funds to
continue their ID&R activities. What is expected, however, is that these activities should be
conducted in the most cost-effective manner possible. One way to achieve that is to have at every
school trained personnel that can identify the migrant students at the time their parents enroll them.
By doing that, the number of migrant personnel that are assigned to identify and recruit migrant
students elsewhere, particularly the emancipated youth will be reduced to a minimum, thereby freeing
funds for direct services.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the needs assessment, please contact me or Diana Ortega
Sen at (850) 487-3530 or SC 277-2530.
cc: Betty Coxe
Kathy Mizereck
Bernardo A. Garcia
Diana O. Sen