The California Department of Education (CDE), Even Start Office (ESO), is part of the Language Learner and Support Division. The ESO is responsible for three programs that connect early childhood education, parent involvement, and family literacy services for families in California. Programs include: William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy, American Indian Early Childhood Education, and Migrant Education Even Start.
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 23 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 2005-06, approximately 11,967 parents and 11,135 children enrolled in the program.
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 23 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.
For information regarding the MEES Program, contact Christopher Cambern, Consultant, Even Start Office at 916-319-0394.
