Special Programs - Milton-Freewater Unified School District 7

District's Equal Educational Philosophy

Every student in the Milton-Freewater Unified School District #7 will be given equal educational opportunities regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, marital status, linguistic background, culture, capability or geographic location. Further, no student will be excluded from participating in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity conducted by the district. The district will treat its students without discrimination on the basis of gender as this pertains to course offerings, athletics, counseling, employment assistance and extracurricular activities.

Please contact Aaron Duff, the district's EEO Compliance Officer, with any questions or concerns.

District Special Programs

Special Education

We're committed to individual success. The Special Education Department is committed to meet the changing needs of students by working with families and our community. We embrace the individual differences of our students and strive to help each student achieve academic and social success by listening, providing support, and creating solutions.

Special Education Services are available at each school within the Milton-Freewater Unified School District to serve students who have been identified as eligible for special education services. Students identified as eligible for special education services must meet the following two requirements:

Federal and state eligibility requirements as having a disability in at least one of 11 handicapping condition categories.
Need specially designed instruction.

Transition (ages 16 - 21) are available to special education students who graduate with a Modified Diploma, Extended Diploma, or Alternative Certificate.

The Intermountain ESD provides educational services for eligible children birth to kindergarten. For children younger than kindergarten, please telephone IMESD at 888-437-6892 or visit their web site.

Contact our administrative offices at 541-938-3551 if you have any questions or input regarding special education services or programs at the Milton-Freewater Unified School District.

Identifying Children with Disabilities

The Milton-Freewater Unified School District (MFUSD) is seeking assistance in locating children with disabilities (birth through age 21) who have not graduated from high school and currently are not attending nor receiving other special services from public schools.

Oregon and federal law mandate educational services for children with disabilities. MFUSD provides educational programs and services for eligible children from kindergarten through high school. Services provided are appropriate to each child's disability.

Parents, guardians, or anyone who knows of a child (ages 5 through 21) with a disability currently not receiving educational services are asked to notify the special education contact person in the child's home school or contact the District's Special Education Department at 541-938-3551.

Talented and Gifted Program (TAG)

Welcome to the Milton-Freewater School District's Talented and Gifted home page. The purpose of this page is to inform students and parents about resources and opportunities available for high-achieving students.

TAG Testing

Every year students are considered for Talented and Gifted students in the Milton-Freewater School District. These services are provided by your child's classroom teacher(s). If you think your child might qualify, you may wish to contact the district office at 541-938-3551 for a Parent Referral Form. Completing this form gives your child's school TAG committee more information about your child. Classroom teachers also collect observational data from students each fall and make recommendations for testing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What can I do if I am not pleased with what is going on in my child's class?

A: The first question you will be asked if you contacted anyone besides the classroom teacher is, Did you contact the classroom teacher? If the answer is yes, and you have thoroughly discussed your concerns, the next step would be to contact the school's administrative staff. The next step would be to contact one of the District's TAG Director.

Q: How often should I hear about my child's progress throughout the year?

A: Parents will receive a variety of updates on their child's progress. Because the District has identified TAG students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, the number of contacts varies. At the elementary level teachers may contact parents through the TAG Planning Worksheets, newsletters, progress reports, and report cards. Conferences and phone calls may also be part of the on-going communication. At the middle school and high school levels parents can request an Instructional Plan Sheet their child's core subject area teachers in the Fall of each year. Please feel free, however, to contact the team or individual teachers as concerns arise.

Q: What if I want to have my student removed from TAG services?

A: According to the Oregon Administrative Rules, The parents may, at any time, request the withdrawal of their child from programs and services provided..... Parents should contact a District TAG Specialist and the school administrator to discuss removal from TAG services.

Q: If there are no separate classes, how does the Milton-Freewater Unified School District meet the varying needs of its TAG students?

A: All students who are identified academically talented and/or intellectually gifted are continuously assessed to determine their level and rate of learning. The services offered address both affective and intellectual needs of these students and encourage the development of advanced critical and creative thinking skills. While the TAG identification criteria are consistent throughout the District, any special services will vary from school to school in order to meet the unique needs of each school's situation.

In addition to on-going classroom instruction at the appropriate rate and level, some of the other services which may be available are listed below:

All grade levels: Differentiated instruction, cluster grouping and flexible grouping, individualized instruction, curriculum compacting, grade acceleration, independent projects, mentorships, clubs and interest groups, Oregon Writing Festival, Knowledge Master Tournament.

High school students: Honors courses, Advanced Placement, mentorships, independent study, credit by examination, the possibility of concurrent enrollment with Blue Mountain Community College, Walla Walla Community College, and Eastern Oregon University.

Please contact your child's teacher or the school principal for more specific information.

Title I-A Improving Basic Programs

The purpose of Title IA is to provide additional support for schools that serve children who have risk factors like poverty or high mobility. Research has demonstrated that these factors make it more difficult for children to be successful in school. Eligible schools get an amount of money based on the number of students in the school who are directly certified by USDA standards.

The use of the school-wide Title IA Funding must align to school improvement planning which is informed by a school level self-assessment and needs assessment using measures from five key domains: Leadership, talent development, stakeholder engagement, well-rounded coordinated learning principles, and inclusive policy and practice.

How is the funding determined?

Milton Freewater School District follows the recommended school-wide allocation model. In order to be identified as a Title IA school, at least 33% of K-8 students need to be receiving support services from the state. If a school qualifies at or above the MFUSD thresholds, the school is allocated a per pupil amount. This amount is based on the number of students within that qualifying school who receive the state supports. I.e. a school qualifies at 40.1% - total enrollment is 382 and eligible students total 153. The allocation would be based upon those 153 qualifying students within the building.

Milton-Freewater School District Title IA Schools:

Gib Olinger Elementary School (KG - 3rd)
Ferndale Elementary School (4th - 5th)
Central Middle School (6th - 8th)

What Does Title IA Funding cover?

Gib Olinger Elementary School
- Reading and Math Intervention Teachers and Support Staff
- Family Engagement Opportunities
  - Science Night
  - Math Night
  - Reading Night
  - Book and a Movie
Ferndale Elementary School
- Reading and Math Intervention Teachers and Support Staff
- School Supplies Handout during Open House
- Virtual/Live Assemblies
- Watershed Field Day
- Outdoor School
- Family Engagement Opportunities
  - Science Night
  - Ferndale Reads Together
Central Middle School
- Reading and Math Intervention Teachers and Support Staff
- Family Engagement Opportunities
  - Open House

Questions? Please Contact

Margo Piver

Titles: Director of Human Resources, Title Programs & State Assessment

Phone Numbers:
School: (541) 938-3551

Title I-C Migrant Education

The migrant education program provides help with education and other needs for children ages 3-21 who move frequently because they, their parents, or guardians work in agriculture, fishing, or forestry. Since 1996, the United States government has offered this assistance to families who work in agriculture. The Program is available in every U.S. state and Puerto Rico.

Migrant Education Program Goals

The goal of the Program is to help children and young people overcome problems that result from repeated moves, so the children can be successful in school, graduate from high school and go onto college or employment after graduation. The additional support for children from highly mobile, agricultural families gives them the same change for success as other students. In addition, the Program offers some services for young people under the ages of 22 who are not attending school.

Migrant Education Program Services

In school, the Program offers extra help for the students who need it most. The Migrant Education Program at your school might offer:

In-class assistance
Help with homework before or after school
Summer school
Preschool for children ages 3-5
Parent meetings

In the community, the program helps with support services. Some examples are:

24 hour accident insurance for all eligible children
Helping parents learn about the community and where they can get help finding employment, child care, food, clothes, and health services
GED or English classes for youth who are working

Who Qualifies for Migrant Education Program Services?

Children and young people ages 3 to 21 years old:

Who have not yet graduated from high school;
Who moved with their families across school district boundaries within the last 3 years;
Who moved so they or their parents could look for work in agriculture, fishing, forestry, ranching, dairy, canneries or meat packing plants;
And whose families depend on agriculture work to survive.

How Students Qualify for the Migrant Education Program

Children/young adults who are migrant and have had the basis for the Migrant Education Program (MEP) eligibility properly recorded may receive MEP services. A child is eligible for MEP services if he or she:

Is younger than 22 (and has not graduated from high school or does not hold a high school equivalency certificate) but (b), if the child is too young to attend school-sponsored educational programs, is old enough to benefit from an organized instructional program.
Is a migrant agricultural worker or a migrant fisher OR has a parent, spouse, or guardian who is a migrant agricultural worker or a migrant fisher; AND
Performs, or has a parent, spouse, or guardian who performs, qualifying agricultural or fishing employment for wages or personal subsistence; AND
Has moved within the preceding 36 months to obtain, or to accompany or join a parent, spouse, or guardian to obtain temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work; AND
Has moved from one school district to another.

After You Join the Migrant Education Program:

All information provided by parents if confidential by law.
Oregon keeps the information on a computer system. Only Migrant Program personnel may use the system.
The Migrant Education Program in your school district will decide which services each child will receive.
All eligible children and youth are covered by accident insurance 24 hours a day. The insurance pays part of the medical costs when a child is injured in an accident, including in school sports.
The children and youth are eligible for Migrant Education Program services for three years from the date of the qualifying move.
The Program is voluntary and free to all eligible children.

Title III English Learners

The Milton-Freewater Unified School District serves between 300 and 350 English learner students each year. The supports and services provided to our English learner students fall under the federal and state guidelines for Title III.

The goal of our EL program is for students to attain proficiency in all four domains of the English language: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening. Our EL program provides supplemental instruction in English Language Development (the appropriate use and mechanics of the English language as well as academic vocabulary development).

In order to be eligible for EL support services, students must have a primary language other than English and not yet be proficient in English. All students who have a primary language other than English are screened for English proficiency. Once a student is determined eligible for EL services, parents are notified and have the option of withdrawing their child from services.

All EL students take the statewide English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA21) each spring to measure proficiency in English.

When a student attains proficiency in the English language, he or she is exited from the EL program. After exiting from the program, students' academic progress is monitored for four years.

If you have any questions about the district's EL program, please contact the MFUSD District office at: 541-938-3551

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program

Children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to a free, appropriate public education.

The Milton-Freewater School District provides assistance for school-based needs to our families who are homeless. Services include:

Free breakfast and lunch
School supplies
Clothing
Transportation

Information from the National Coalition for the Homeless--Click Here

If you have any questions about the district's McKinney-Vento program, please contact the MFUSD District office at: 541-938-3551

Foster Care Liaison

Contact: Ami Muilenburg at 541-938-3551

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) replaces No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and affords states greater flexibility. The new law extends the promise of an excellent, well-rounded education to every student, regardless of race, family income, home language, or disability. ESSA encourages schools and educators to innovate and create systems that address local needs. As a part of this work, the Oregon Department of Education remains committed to designing a State Plan that reflects the state’s education priorities.

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