The purpose of the Migrant Education Program is to:
- support high-quality and comprehensive educational programs for migratory children to help reduce the educational disruptions and other problems that results from repeated moves;
- ensure that migratory children who move among the States are not penalized in any manner by disparities among the States in curriculum, graduations requirements, standards;]
- ensure that migratory children are provided with appropriate educational services (including supportive services) that address their special needs in a coordinated and efficient manner;
- ensure that migratory children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards that all children are expected to meet;
- design programs to help migratory children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that inhibit the ability of such children to do well in school, and to prepare such children to make a successful transition to postsecondary education and employment; and
- ensure that migratory children benefit from State and local systemic reforms.
(Elementary & Secondary Education Act, Title I, Part C, Section 1301-1309)
Migrant Education Program History Video, 2009
Elia Ramirez is currently a migrant family liaison in the Vallivue School District in Caldwell, ID with approximately 300 identified migrant students. She has been a migrant family liaison for 15 years. Elia is described as being resourceful, a teacher of parents, and committed to migrant students, their families, and her work.
Following is a description of a situation that illustrated how Elia went above and beyond to provide services to a migrant student and/or family:
"In one situation last year, we had a migrant boy who had a grand mal seizure for the first time. The hysterical mother called Elia at six in the morning, not knowing who to turn to. Elia helped them through interacting with medical personnel to get the boy treated. At the hospital she then discovered that the doctor said he needed quiet, warmth and rest, that the family had no electricity (including heat) because of a fault in the wiring in their trailer. Elia said later that she was determined to help when she saw the tears running down the mother's cheeks because they had no way to keep him warm. Elia found a spouse of a staff member who was an electrician, who volunteered his time and found a donation for the $68 part required to fix the problem. This is beyond what we would usually do, but the boys' health was in the balance and the preschool siblings needed the heat just as much."
The Espinoza family wrote this about Mrs. Ramirez, when asked to write a letter to be submitted in support of her nomination:
"What stands out about Mrs. Elia Ramirez is her dedication to helping people and the sincere manner in which she does it. I'm truly thankful to her and for all she's done for us and for looking out for us in just the right way; and making us feel better in dreadful moments such as when our house burned down. We were so grateful that in this world there still exists a wonderful, caring person such as Elia. In the same caring manner that she's helped us she has helped many other families.
I'd like to say to her "thank you so much Elia Ramirez. Although we realize it is your job to assist families, you do more than that. We feel that you really care when you help. You do it with such a pleasure that we can sense you truly do so from your heart. We hope that there will always be wonderful caring people like you. May God bless you and your family".