The Migrant Education Even Start (MEES) Program is a statewide, home-based and school-based family literacy education model. It is authorized under No Child Left Behind, Title 1, Part C, Section 1304(6) (C). Modeled after the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy programs, local projects are administered by 22 Migrant Education regions at 332 sites. Educational services are provided to migratory families; parents receive services to enhance literacy levels, expand parenting skills, and learn English-as-a-second language; children, zero to seven years old, are provided early childhood and preschool services. MEES projects are funded by three main sources: California State/Federal Migrant Education funds, California Migrant Education Regions, and the California Children and Families Commission (First 5 California). In Fiscal Year 2007-08, approximately 12,647 parents and 12,894 children across California.
Announcement
The California Department of Education, in collaboration with Butte County Office of Education and First 5 California, is pleased to announce the 14th Annual Migrant Education Even Start Conference (Outside source), which will take place November 18 to 21, 2008 at the Holiday Inn, Capitol Plaza, in Sacramento, California.
Requirements
Families participating in MEES must be classified as "migratory." See Migrant Education for guidelines. Children must be between birth and age seven, and parents and children must participate together in project activities. California has 332 MEES project sites within 22 migrant education regions.
Models
MEES project services are based on two models:
Home-based
Project teachers and assistants work in the home with migratory parents and their children providing parenting skills and early childhood education services.
School-based
Parents and children attend classes together at a school or center site. Classes include English as a second language, literacy (English and native language), parenting skills for parents, early childhood education, and kindergarten readiness skills.
