SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Helping Migrant Students Reach New Heights
Bianey Mina, a proud graduate of Santa Paula High School, attributes much of her success to the life-changing support she received from the Ventura County Office of Education’s Migrant Education Program (MEP). “These types of opportunities are not offered to everyone,” she says. “I felt like it was a privilege to participate.” Her journey with MEP began when her parents discovered the program while she was a student in the Oxnard School District. Once eligible, Bianey eagerly joined programs like Saturday School, Summer School, and Speech and Debate, all offered by VCOE to empower migrant students. “The staff kept me motivated and engaged and provided me with lots of positive learning opportunities,” she shares. Speech and Debate, in particular, left a lasting impact. At the MEP Speech and Debate Tournament Bianey won 1st place in 6th grade and 2nd place in 7th grade. By 12th grade, she ventured into the debate team, embracing new challenges that further honed her public speaking skills and boosted her confidence.
Now a double major in criminology and psychology at California State University, Northridge, Bianey credits MEP with exposing her to higher education and shaping her into an ambitious student with a world of opportunity ahead of her. Learn more about the VCOE Migrant Education Program at vcoe.org/migrant .
316 FOSTER
1,845 MIGRANT
8,213 HOMELESS
STUDENTS SERVED 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
Foster Youth Services
The VCOE Homeless Education Program (HEP) is a lifeline for students facing homelessness, ensuring they overcome barriers to education. HEP guarantees equal access to free, high-quality public education, including preschool, so every child has the chance to thrive. Collaborating with school district liaisons, the program ensures students receive vital support like school supplies, hygiene kits, and winter coats. Beyond academics, HEP connects families to essential community and county resources, empowering students to succeed. HEP ensures that homeless children receive a quality education and a pathway to hope and opportunity. Homeless Education Program
VCOE’s Foster Youth Services is dedicated to sup- porting students in foster care. Partnering with foster youth liaisons in every school district, the program addresses educational, physical, and emotional needs, closes gaps in support, and provides essential services directly or through trusted partners. Collaborating with social workers, attorneys, and community advo-cates, the program ensures smooth school transitions, boosts academic success, and reduces truancy. With a focus on trauma-informed practices, the team trains educators and caregivers while guiding 12th graders toward higher education, building brighter futures for foster youth.
14 ● VCOE EDUCATION REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
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