Migrant program reports vision/dental screenings, wellness days and higher-than-average graduation rates

Hector Mendes, presenting the annual migrant education update, said the program seeks to ensure migrant students meet academic standards and graduate with a diploma or a viable pathway such as the GED. Mendes explained the identification process—district recruiters interview families and issue a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) when federal guidelines are met—and said the program receives federal funds under Title I Part C. "We're talking about like under $2 million for the federal program," Mendes said, describing that funding as a supplement to district services.

Mendes provided program counts and priority-for-service figures: for example, 666 elementary migrant students with 383 classified as priority for service (interrupted school year), and a districtwide total of about 1,968 migrant students; he said about 853 students are priority for service. He described services funded by the grant and the migrant program team including recruiters, a migrant nurse and graduation specialists.

The presentation highlighted health services and supports: district partners conducted vision screenings (105 students screened across several sites), ordered prescription eyewear when needed, and performed dental sealants (15 at Eisenhower and 41 at Davis on specified dates). Migrant wellness days brought priority-for-service middle and high school students together for arts and social-emotional sessions (students chose top topics such as healthy relationships and creativity) and district staff said the events aim to reduce barriers to learning.

Mendes also noted college outreach and student success: he told the board that a migrant student, Yarita Cvantes (a 4.0 student and national scholarship winner), had been recognized with a national Albert D. Wright Junior Scholarship and that three out of the last four years the district’s migrant graduation rate has been high—Mendes cited Yakima’s migrant graduation rate at about 84.7, higher than the state migrant average of about 77.5 percent.

Board members asked how migrants are defined and funded; Mendes explained the recruiter and home/worksite interview process and reiterated that the Title I Part C federal grant is the primary funding source and that the program uses grant funds to support staff and services. No formal board action was taken; presentation materials and program statistics were included in board documents.