Who: About 100 students ages 3 to 21 who attend at two sites for either day or evening programs

What: Delaware Migrant Education Program, which annually conducts two six-week migrant summer school projects

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday

Where: UD Cooperative Extension / Delmarva Poultry Industry building at 16686 County Seat Highway between Georgetown and Laurel (just west of Sussex Tech High School on the opposite side of the road)

Why: The focus of the program is to improve the reading and math scores of the migrant students, teach school readiness and provide assistance in setting graduation goals and secondary credit accrual. English as a Second Language also is offered to all those who are interested.

The students come from Georgia, Florida, Texas, and other states to help work Delaware’s agricultural season. The program this year is at two sites: Eagles Nest Christian Academy in Milton and Milford Boys & Girls Club in Milford. The summer projects conduct pre- and post- assessments to measure student growth, provide numerous field trips and enrichment activities, and parent involvement. For example, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 3) a Farm Safety Day is planned at the UD Cooperative Extension with students from both summer projects attending. Last Wednesday, a Culinary Arts Day was held at Delcastle Vocational High School. About 35 students used local Delaware produce while they spent a day in the kitchen with five Delaware chefs. Last Friday, one of the projects bussed students to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for a field trip.

Reporters and photographers are invited to visit tomorrow’s program at the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension / Delmarva Poultry Industry building. Guests will include representatives from the Greenwood Fire Company, the Sussex County Sheriff's Office, Milton Fire Department, Delaware State Police, LifeNet Aviation and the Cooperative Extension.

Funding for the project comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s federal Title I, Part C Migrant Education Program.  For more information, contact Delaware Department of Education education associate Terry Richard at trichard@doe.k12.de.us