Migrant Program

• Support high-quality and comprehensive educational programs for migrant children in order to reduce the educational disruption and other problems that can result from repeated moves.

• Ensure that migrant children who move among the states are not penalized in any manner by disparities among the states in curriculum, graduation requirements, and state academic content, and student academic achievement standards.

• Ensure that migrant children are provided with appropriate educational services (including supportive services) that address their special needs in a coordinated and efficient manner.

• Ensure that migrant children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards that all children are expected to meet.

• Design programs to help migrant children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that inhibit their ability to do well in school, and to prepare them to make a successful transition to post-secondary education or employment.

• Ensure that migrant children benefit from state and local systemic reforms.

According to sections 115(b) (1) (a) and 1309(2) of the statute and section 200.81(d) of the regulations, a child is eligible for the migrant services if:

The child is younger than 22 and has not graduated from high school or does not hold a high school equivalency certificate.

The child 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.

The child has moved within the preceding 36 months in order to obtain (or seek) or to accompany (or join) a parent, spouse or guardian to obtain (or seek), temporary or seasonal employment in qualifying agricultural or fishing work; and such employment is a principal means of livelihood.

The child has moved from one school district to another; or in a state that is comprised of a single school district, has moved from one administrative area to another within such district; or

Resides in a school district of more than 15,000 square miles and migrates a distance of 20 miles or more to a temporary residence to engage in fishing activity. (This provision currently applies only to Alaska)

MEP recruiters canvass homes in the various school districts and interview parents to obtain eligibility information. Upon qualifying, a needs assessment is completed, and referrals are made to the appropriate staff. The recruiters are the crucial point of contact between the school district and the family.

Identification and recruitment means:

1. Determining the location and presence of migrant children.

2. Making contact with migrant families and explaining the migrant education program.

3. Determining proper and timely identification and recruitment of all eligible children.

4. Recruiting children who are most in need of program services.

5. Providing supplemental services to enable migrant children to meet high academic challenges and performance standards that are expected of all children and youth.

Supplemental tutorial services are offered to students most at risk of failing or not meeting state standards by utilizing effective research-based tutorial methods and strategies to strengthen the core academic program.

Provide extended learning time during and after school to students in need of additional intense assistance.

To help migrant students meet their state's content and performance standards, a top priority of the mep summer term is to provide a range of supplemental educational instruction for migrant students. MEP summer term provides instructional services in core academic areas (reading, other language arts, math, science, and social science) and other extracurricular enhancement activities. In addition, parental workshops are provided based on the needs of the families.

Migrant children are provided with specific support services to overcome some of the problems that might impede their ability to do well in school. The most common support services provided by the MEP summer enhancement program are transportation, bilingual instruction, meals, and school supplies.