The Price of Losing Migrant Education in Monterey County

The Migrant Education Program: A Lifeline for Students and Communities

Alejandra González, now an administrative assistant in the North Monterey County Unified School District and vice president of the Hartnell College Board of Trustees, recalls how the Migrant Education Program played a crucial role in her life. As a fourth grader, she struggled to see clearly in class, and it was the program that helped her get her first pair of glasses. Later, when she faced challenges due to frequent moves with her family following seasonal work, the program provided the support she needed to graduate on time.

The Migrant Education Program has been instrumental in helping students like González overcome obstacles tied to their families' migratory lifestyles. Established in 1966, the program ensures that children of migrant workers receive the academic and social support they need despite constant relocation. In Monterey County, which has one of the largest migrant student populations in California, the program serves around 10,000 students and receives nearly $20 million in funding annually.

However, this critical support is now under threat. The Trump administration’s proposed 2026 federal budget includes a plan to eliminate the Migrant Education Program, claiming that it "works to the detriment of children’s academic success" by encouraging movement. Critics argue that this decision ignores the program’s long history of success and its vital role in supporting vulnerable students.

Key Services Provided by the Program

The Migrant Education Program offers a wide range of services designed to address the unique needs of migrant students. These include:

• Academic support
• Health services
• Parental engagement initiatives
• Tutoring programs
• College and career readiness resources
• Cultural activities

These services are especially important for students who often face disruptions in their education due to frequent relocations. Local leaders and former participants emphasize that the program fills critical gaps in support, ensuring that students have the tools they need to succeed academically and socially.

Superintendent of Schools Deneen Guss highlights the importance of these services, noting that they help students navigate the challenges of constant movement. “The migrant program services help to fill those gaps so students get the extra support that they need due to the challenges they face because of those frequent moves,” she said.

Compliance and Success in Monterey County

Monterey County’s Migrant Education Program has consistently met high standards. It is the only region in the state to be found 100% compliant with state standards during the Federal Program Monitoring Review. Additionally, the program has served as a model for other regions across California.

In Alisal Union School District, the program provides summer learning opportunities in English, math, and STEM, along with basic school supplies and family resource centers that offer support for housing, health, employment, and adult education. These resources are essential for families who may lack access to similar services elsewhere.

Former migrant student and Alisal Union Superintendent Monica Anzo emphasized the importance of these services. “When you have a parent working out in the fields for hours, there are gaps,” she said. “The research says you should be reading to your students, doing homework with them. The migrant program helps our parents with those gaps because they’re out there working.”

Personal Impact and Community Support

González’s story reflects the broader impact of the program. Her family moved frequently, and she faced significant challenges in completing high school. When she was told she wouldn’t graduate with her class, the migrant aid office helped her enroll in independent study classes, allowing her to finish on time.

Guss noted that many successful individuals in the county are former migrant students. “If that doesn’t attest to the positive impact of the program, I don’t know what does,” she said.

Despite the proposed elimination, the program has enjoyed bipartisan support for nearly six decades. Guss pointed out that it has never been found ineffective. “So many students need that extra help, extra resources to be able to be successful,” she said. “They have it in them, our students are successful. We just need to be able to have those little guards in place so that they don’t fall through the cracks, and that’s what the migrant program is.”

Conclusion

The Migrant Education Program has been a lifeline for countless students and families in Monterey County and beyond. Its removal would not only disrupt the lives of current students but also erase years of proven success. As advocates like González and Guss continue to fight for the program, the community remains united in recognizing its value and the critical role it plays in shaping future leaders.