Migrant Education Program Overview
Program Purpose
The Migrant Education Program (MEP) is a federally funded program
authorized under Title I, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act
(NCLB).
The purpose of the MEP is to:
- Support high-quality and comprehensive educational programs
for migrant children in order to reduce the educational disruption
and other problems that 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 postsecondary education or employment;
and
- Ensure that migrant children benefit from state and local systemic
reforms
Eligible Children
Trained recruiters interview families to determine each child's
eligibility for the Migrant Education Program. To qualify for the
program a migrant child must have moved within the last three years
across state or school district lines with a parent or guardian
or on his/her own to obtain qualifying temporary or seasonal work
in agriculture or fishing. Qualifying work must be directly related
to (1) planting, harvesting or processing of crops, dairy products,
poultry or livestock or (2) catching or processing of fish or shellfish.
Children and youth through the age of 21 who have not graduated
from high school may be eligible.
Priority for Services
Eligible migrant children must receive priority for service if
they:
- have interrupted schooling related to their migrant lifestyle
during the regular school year and
- are failing or at risk of failing to meeting state content
and performance standards
Funding
Funds may be used for supplemental educational and ancillary services
for migrant children including preschool programs, summer school,
tutorial support during the regular school year, and secondary services
to help high school students graduate. Other activities include
identification and recruitment of students, student record exchange
and information transfer with other states, health services, parent
involvement initiatives and professional development for school
personnel.
|
