The Mission of   Berrien Springs Bilingual/Migrant Education is to assist students in achieving English language proficiency and literacy while recognizing their cultural diversity as a valuable resource in our school and community.

The Berrien Springs Public Schools has two highly divergent Limited English Proficient groups within its district.  Over 67% of the LEP students come from the migratory agricultural laborer stream.   The remaining 33% are children of the students attending Andrews University.

The Berrien Springs Migrant and bilingual Programs operate with the following goals:

• Enabling students to achieve full proficiency and literacy in English

• Enabling students to acquire basic and higher order skills for achievement in school and in the future

• Helping students develop a positive self-concept and recognizing their unique cultural and linguistic background

• Helping students successfully complete school and make an effective transition to higher education, work, and community life

These programs provide assistance to students from as many as 26 different countries, speaking as many as 27 languages.

The Berrien Springs Migrant Education Program provides a regular school-year as well as a federal funded summer program including day care services.   Awarded the National Certificate of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education 1988, it provides both instructional and supportive services.

The primary purpose of the program is to assist migratory children to overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that inhibit the ability of such children to do well in school, and to prepare such children to make a successful transition to post-secondary education or employment.

Portable Assisted Study Sequence is an individualized study program for migrant high school/middle school students, allowing them to earn transferable credits toward high school diplomas while they are working in this area to supplement their family income.  The process begins when we contact home school counselors to ensure approval of credits earned.

The primary components of the Berrien Springs Bilingual Education Program include:

• Diagnostic - Students are identified, assessed, and tested to determine the extent of their needs

• Small Group Educational Plan - Creative group plans are designed and implemented that target the vast differences in language development, utilizing the modalities of learning

• Linguistic/Cultural - Students are encouraged to share their home culture and language with the staff and students to aid in the building   of student self-esteem and acceptance

• Parent - Parents are invited to take an active part in all aspects of the program