PA Department of Education Honors Migrant Education Program 2009 Graduates

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Education
Gerald L. Zahorchak today honored 89 students from across Pennsylvania for
graduating from the Department of Education's Migrant Education Program.

"The department's mission to ensure each and every student, regardless of
economic or ethnic background, receives a quality education is personified
through this program," Secretary Zahorchak said. "These students have overcome
great obstacles to walk across this stage today. Their persistence and
resiliency should be emulated by all commonwealth students."

Since its inception, the Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program has served
more 350,000 migrant students in 200 districts. During the 2007-08 school
year, the program aided more than 5,000 students. More than 3,000 of them
participated in the program last summer.

"While in high school I encountered many obstacles, one was the color
of my skin," said Antwann Flanders, a senior at Shippensburg Area School
District. "My presence before you today demonstrates the belief I have in
myself and the belief others have in me."

This year, 89 students graduated from the migrant education program. Nearly 60
percent of the graduates plan to pursue higher education, while others plan to
enter the workforce or join the military.

"When I joined the program my life changed," said Hiep Song of Philadelphia.
"I was amazed at how many people had the same background as I did and how much
I learned from the program."

In operation since 1967, the migrant education program is state- and
federally-funded and helps local school districts coordinate educational
continuity programs for children of migrant workers. The average migrant
family moves three to five times annually. Migrant education program students
are 90 percent Latino, 6 percent Asian, 3 percent White, and 1 percent
African-American.

Governor Edward G. Rendell's proposed education budget for 2009-10 provides
$1.2 million for the migrant education program. In addition to the program,
many migrant education students participate in the state's education
assistance program, or EAP, which provides tutoring support to struggling
students. During the 2008-09 school year, $65.2 million was provided for EAP
and more than 92,000 students received tutoring. This year's proposed budget
also maintains EAP funding with another $65.2 million.

For more information about the migrant education program, visit
www.pde.state.pa.us.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is a list of student speakers from today's event:
-- Antwann Flanders, Cumberland County, Shippensburg Area School District
-- Hiep Song, Philadelphia County, Philadelphia School District
-- Denisse Gullon, Lancaster County, Lancaster School District

-- Alba Espinosa, Luzerne County, Hazleton School District

CONTACT: Leah Harris
(717) 783-9802

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

Leah Harris of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, +1-717-783-9802