Migrant Education

During enrollment, you fill out a Migrant Education Survey. During October, we conduct interviews based on those. If the State deems your student eligible, you will be contacted by our HCSD Migrant Ed Rep. 

Eligibility for the Migrant Education program depends on a few factors. (Some of this may help you with your spring/summer/fall family plans.)

  1. The activity must be due to economic necessity.
    • How does the subsistence activity help your family economically?
    • What would change in your lifestyle if you didn’t have the food/money from the activities?
    • What basic household needs/bills you could not provide your family without the activities?
  2.  Approved activities are: commercial or subsistence fishing, berry picking(the most common two in AK), or green food harvesting, or even agricultural harvesting if a person is seeking seasonal employment.
    • where did you go
    • when did you go
    • what type of fish or berries
    • what equipment were you using
    • how do you prepare the fish or berries
    • how often do you eat the fish or berries
    • do you own the land you fish or pick on
  3. Distance is another factor. For Totem families, the move must be at least 20 miles one way away from home.
    • We actually need to include a map with your interview so specific locations are great!
  4. Dates: Must be gone from one's residence for a minimum total of 7 nights and 8 days. Each 'move' must be at least 1 night/2 days with a total of 7 nights/8 days within a calendar year. One day moves do not qualify (as the children would be able to attend school the following day).
    • Camping trips where you picked berries, fished, harvested greens
  • Support and services Totem Migrant Ed students received for the 23/24 year:
    • Cricket Magazine year subscription
    • National Geographic Kid’s yearly magazine subscription
    • National Geographic Little Kids Bok Bundle year subscription
    • Extra Tuff "shorties"
    • A Daypack of supplies: 13 Alaskan Field Guides, waist pack, binoculars, 120-piece first aid kit, berry picker tool, hand foot and body warmer pack, pocket magnifier, weather proof notebook, survival compass, safety whistle.
    • Fieldtrip to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
  • Support and services Totem Migrant Ed students received for the 22/23 year:
    • Grundens raincoat/pants
    • Cricket Magazine year subscription
    • Fieldtrip to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
  • Support and services Totem Migrant Ed students received for the 21/22 year:
    • Anchorage Museum or the Sea Life Center in Seward yearlong Family Membership