In the Fields: Advocates keep eye on migrant students
BY WILLIAM ROLLER, SUN STAFF WRITER
One of the most impacted segments of the farmworker population rarely
steps foot in the fields. But the children of farmworkers often face
unique obstacles.
Yuma County has the largest population of migrant children in Arizona,
according to Maria Nixon, migrant program coordinator for Yuma
Elementary School District 1, which alone has 1,000.
"I would say the greatest impact on families is separating."
In many cases, both parents will go to Salinas, Calif., in the spring
and leave a child with a grandparent.
"That has a tumbling effect that can grow into other issues like
absenteeism, falling behind academically or misbehavior."
Although parents may be in the fields in Salinas, they respond to
inquires from District 1 offices.
"That's the sort of strong partnerships we have. We have key people we
work closely with who are migrant advocates in the Alisal School
District (in Salinas)."
Parents who must leave children behind don't go until toward the end of
the school year, usually in April, Nixon said. Typically, both parents
do not leave at once. Instead, the father goes first to set up living
accommodations.
Typically, when farmworkers must leave for Salinas in mid-March, the
district tries to persuade them to leave children long enough to
complete AIMS exams. Some families will leave children behind while
others do not. California gives its standardized STAR exam usually in
April, she noted.
"And because of this concentrated effort, we're seeing improving numbers
of students meeting and exceeding AIMS standards."
In Somerton, migrant student enrollment dropped from 690 last year to
600 this year, said Shelly Reed-Mezei, Federal Programs director. Their
migrant education program addresses the special needs of children to
help them succeed academically through programs designed to reduce
disruption from repeated moves.
The enrollment drop is owing to the increased cost of travel. Some
families are declining to return to California or switching to
construction trades for employment so they may remain in Yuma, she
noted.
One particular problem Somerton is focusing on is the loss of
self-esteem some migrant students experience, Reed-Mezei said. Because
they may only spend the last two months of the year at Yuma schools,
they can feel "out of place," she noted.
To help migrant students, Somerton holds after-school tutorials four
times a week. And Somerton offers spring break tutorials as well as a
Jump Start program for a couple of weeks before each new school year
with the intention of spotting problems before they start.
Even though tutorials are during vacation time, parents and students see
the benefits and have embraced the concept, Reed-Mezei said.
Supplemental efforts paid off, with Somerton maintaining state standards
in the last several years.
Esperanza Zendejas, the superintendant of the Alisal School District in
Salinas, said the biggest challenge for migrant students is maintaining
the continuity of curriculum, but that does not mean students are not
learning.
Three years ago, Salinas educators began their Intervention Academy,
which offers additional tutoring. They also keep a staff of supplemental
teachers who help classroom teachers provide another level of support,
she said.
"It fills the gap for students who are not with us continuously. I think
migrant students are challenged by moving. You can see the kids don't
want to leave the classroom, but they don't have a choice."
In the coming years, expectations for migrant students will continue to
rise and the districts must make additional efforts to align their
curriculum. With the new Race to the Top $4.3 billion federal grant, 48
states have already formed a consortium to create uniform standards in
reading and math. And because of the financial incentive to implement
reform, future efforts are likely to ensure greater continuity for
students, Zendejas said.
Gabby Quinteros, a Yuma mother of three, has been married for 16 years
to her husband, Pablo, who works for the D'Arigo Brothers harvesting
romaine hearts. Pablo spends four months in Yuma and the rest of the
year in Salinas.
Even though Gabby's children go to school in Yuma all year, they qualify
as a migrant family because her children spend summer with their father
in Salinas. Gabby said she is glad they qualify as migrants because her
children are eligible for numerous programs that otherwise she could not
afford.
Gabby's son, Pablo, and elder daughter, Clarisa, both Cibola students,
get tutoring at the Learning Ladder twice a week in math while her
younger daughter, Mariela, a Crane Middle School student, gets help in
reading.
Migrant students in Yuma also receive other assistance. They are able to
get free eyeglasses and basic school supplies but despite their
eligibility, Gabby said she pays for those things herself.