Local program helps carve a path to academic success

Editor’s note: The Yuma Union School District ( YUHSD ), confirms that the college-going rate for class of 2019 is 66 percent for the district and the college going-rate for migrant students is 93 percent.

Hundreds of students travel back and forth between Yuma and Salinas, California every year following their parents from one Agriculture season to the next.

Several of those students are part of the Migrant program, a tool that helps them succeed in academics. but the programs also benefits their parents who are working in the fields.

” The goals are for them to graduate high school and be college and career ready, ” Migrant Program Coordinator, Juan Castillo.

” We want to empower our parents to pave their own success, we know where we can refer our families for them to get more information to get them started we’re really just an extra resource for them to have, ” said Castillo.

One success story is Rosa Marquez, now the President of the Migrant Parent Council. Marques immigrated to the U.S. in 2011 from Baja California, Mexico. She said the program helped her accomplish one of her dreams which is obtaining a G.E.D.

” I’m a migrant and this program has given me the tools like classes for ESL and my GED to have a better life and have a better income coming in, ” said Marquez.

A week into her new position Marquez wants to push for more migrant parents to learn more about the benefits of a high school and college education and the several resources available to families including scholarships.

If you would like more information on the program or how to get involved visit YUHSD’s website.