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Migrant Education Operated by Gloucester County Special Services School District
856-468-6530, Ext. 1053
Joan Geraci, Director
The Gloucester County Special Services School District has been providing regional migrant education services in South Jersey since the 1970s. The district currently operates the program for the southern portion of the state with federal funds received through the State Department of Education. The project offers supplemental instructional and supportive services for eligible children throughout the nine southernmost counties, where more than 90% of the state’s migrant student population has been identified. Services are provided based on assessed need, and include resource and intervention assistance to school districts with enrolled migrant children. After-school tutoring is provided for those children in greatest need, and is designed to complement classroom learning, reinforce core curriculum standards, and improve English language proficiency. Other important services include medical, dental and vision care, home/school coordination, social service referrals, translation, data management, records transfer, and parent involvement. During the summer months, programs are operated at centrally located sites within the regions. Participating students receive daily classroom instruction, transportation, enrichment activities, nutritious meals and extensive health and support services. After-school camp care is also offered and features daily swimming and water safety instruction, as well as boating, horseback riding, arts and crafts, and other sports and games. Evening programs are available for older migrant students who may be working in the fields and are unable to attend daytime classes. These include farm instruction, with heavy emphasis on conversational English and consumer skills, and site-based evening schools offering intensive ESL instruction as well as transportation, dinner, and health services. The regional projects provide a centralized means for coordinating the efforts of migrant staff with those of local districts, other migrant service providers, health and social service agencies in order to best meet the educational, health and social/emotional needs of migrant youngsters.
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