Purpose of Migrant Education

Program Description
Funds support high quality education programs for migratory children and help ensure that migratory children who move among the states are not penalized in any manner by disparities among states in curriculum, graduation requirements, or state academic content and student academic achievement standards. Funds also ensure that migratory children not only are provided with appropriate education services (including supportive services) that address their special needs but also that such 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. Federal funds are allocated by formula to SEAs, based on each state’s per pupil expenditure for education and counts of eligible migratory children, age 3 through 21, residing within the state.

Types of Projects
States use program funds to identify eligible children and provide education and support services. These services include: academic instruction; remedial and compensatory instruction; bilingual and multicultural instruction; vocational instruction; career education services; special guidance; counseling and testing services; health services; and preschool services.

Program Goal
The goal of the Migrant Education Program is to ensure that all migrant students reach challenging academic standards and graduate with a high school diploma (or complete a GED) that prepares them for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment.

Special Initiatives
The Office of Migrant Education has several leadership initiatives in place to increase the capacity of State educational agencies, local school districts, schools, and other community organizations to continuously improve the educational outcomes attained by migrant children. These initiatives currently focus on:
    Binational Migrant Program
    Comprehensive Needs Assessment
    Identification and Recruitment
    Student Records Exchange
    Secondary Students