Proposed federal cuts by Trump could impact Migrant Program in schools
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The federal government could be making budget cuts to education. One of those is the migrant education program. Education leaders in Monterey County say the local program is already suffering from a current budget halt.
Summer school is in session, and leadership behind the migrant program in Monterey County is concerned their services may face cuts.
Constantino Silva, director of the Migrant Education Program, says, “Typically, we would know by now what our allocation for the new fiscal year is.” He adds, “Right now, we don't have word. We don't have confirmation either way.”
A recent budget proposal by the Trump administration would look to cut back funding eliminating to the Migrant Education Program and significantly change English learner education.
In a letter, the Trump administration says, "The federal government has invested trillions of taxpayer dollars into an education system that is not driving improved student outcomes – we must change course and reorient taxpayer dollars toward proven programs that generate results for American students.
Deputy Superintendent at the Monterey County Office of Education, Ralph Gomez Porras, says, “You know California is a big agricultural state, and the crops work the cycles, and the families that are looking for work and wanting to do the work need to follow the cycle of the crops. “
Alicia Mercedes Fletcher, director of the Migrant Program at the Alisal Union School district says, “they assume that this is an immigrant program and a lot people don't know that the majority of migrant students are american citizens and this program serves, you now, a lot of american students and they're all american students, but american citizens.”
Fletcher says 25 percent of students in Frank Paul Elementary School are part of the migrant program. She says a total of 80 percent of the school's student body has parents who work in the fields.
Ernesto Vela, Assistant to the Superintendent, adds, “One very important element of the migrant program is that we wrap around the child with other services. We have services specialized to align community resources to the needs of the families. And so, a significant impact should the program not exist is the fact that these people would not have access to these valuable resources that they need for their success.”
Trump's new budget proposal would also affect student training programs, cut back college readiness programs like GearUp, and simultaneously increase funds to charter schools. Their goal -- to wind down federal responsibilities on education.
Dr. Vela adds, “The migrant program is a supplementary program, which means that above and beyond what the district can offer our students, the migrant program can also support.”
With the ongoing uncertainty, the MCOE says it will work to keep the migrant education program, yet fears of a total federal aid cut leave them with little clarity.
