Migrant Education School Readiness (MESRP)
MESRP is a family literacy program for parents and their preschool children. Families with children from ages three to five are given priority for services. Region 1, MESR programs support the children's early childhood development and guides parents with positive parenting skills that nurture child’s oral language and helps prepare the child to succeed in Kindergarten.
Within the region, preschool services take three forms:
School Year Migrant Education School Readiness (MESRP) Site base and Home base programs
Summer Regionally funded Kinder Readiness Academies
Summer home base visits and small group instruction for regional students
Program Structure
The Region 1 school year MESRP program offers three types of preschool programs: 1) center based, 2) home-based and 3) a combination of both. The center based programs in Region 1 typically provide instruction 4 days per week for 3 hours a day. These programs mirror a typical preschool classroom with learning centers that include a strong early literacy component, dramatic play, circle time and developmental school readiness instruction.
Our home-based programs are characterized by weekly one-hour visits to the home and on average operate for 24 weeks during the school year program. Our home-based programs require that the parent be present throughout the entire visit as this provides an opportunity for the home-visitor to serve as a “model” for the parents. Home-visitors “coach” parents on key strategies and provide targeted parent and child home connection activities based on the child’s individual need. The family is supported with library and materials.
Region 1 funds district Summer Kinder Readiness Academies to better prepare children entering Transitional Kinder and/or Kindergarten during the following academic year. Students are provided with a four week enrichment program which will help them acclimate socially and academically. The Kinder Readiness Academies provide students with small a classroom setting and focus on key early literacy activities. Our migrant students excel in our Summer Kinder Readiness Academies due to an exemplary team of a certificated early elementary teacher and MESRP teacher.
Curriculum & Professional Development
Emphasis is greatly given to early literacy, English Language Development (ELD), math, and social/emotional development, guided on the California Preschool Learning Foundations and Curriculum Frameworks. The preschool programs currently use research-based curriculum but vary based across the district. All programs embed in class early literacy activities and support family literacy activities and parenting skills. Pre and Post data is collected for children who participate in MEP funded programs.
The MEP regional office supports MESRP programs through ongoing Professional Development focusing on best practices and current California Curriculum Frameworks. The school readiness forums provide support for teachers and home visitors to help ensure our migrant children receive quality services. Onsite coaching and classroom support is provided by regional coaches to further support in implementing key strategies.
Additional Information
During the 2015-2016 School year, 763 preschool-age migrant students ages 3-5 were identified in Region 1 throughout 25 elementary school districts.
For additional information on migrant preschool students, allocation of funds or data collection, please contact the Migrant Education Program, Region 1 at (408) 453-6770.
