Title I, Part C Migrant Education

The purpose of the Migrant Education Program is to design and support programs that help migrant students overcome the challenges of mobility, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, and other difficulties associated with a migratory lifestyle in order to succeed in school and to successfully transition to postsecondary education or employment

MIGRATORY CHILD means a child–

1. Who is a migratory agricultural worker or a migratory fisher; or
2. Who, in the preceding 36 months, in order to accompany or join a parent, spouse or guardian who is a migratory agricultural worker or a migratory fisher–

• Has moved from one school district to another;
• In a State that is comprised of a single school district, has moved from one administrative area to another within such district; or
• As the child of a migratory fisher, 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.

For purposes of the Migrant Education Program, move or moved is defined as a change from one residence to another residence across school district lines that occurs due to economic necessity.

Intent and Purpose:  Title I, Part C provides supplemental resources to local education agencies to provide supplemental instructional and support services for migrant students and their families, as well as to conduct identification and recruitment, data collection and records transfer as required by law.

Intended Program Beneficiaries:Migrant children younger than 22 who have not graduated from high school or do not hold a General Educational Development (GED) [this means that the child is entitled to a free public education or is of an age below compulsory school attendance].

General Program Requirements:To help migrant students overcome the challenges of mobility, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, and other difficulties associated with a migratory life, in order to succeed in school, and to successfully transition to postsecondary education or employment.

The Purposes of the Title I, Part C Migrant Education Program (MEP) are to:

1. support high-quality and comprehensive educational programs for migratory children to help reduce the educational disruptions and other problems that result from repeated moves;
2. ensure that migratory 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;
3. ensure that migratory children are provided with appropriate educational services (including supportive services) that address their special needs in a coordinated and efficient manner;
4. ensure that migratory 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;
5. design programs to help migratory children 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 postsecondary education or employment; and
6. ensure that migratory children benefit from State and local systemic reforms.

(P.L. 107-110, Sec. 1301)

Required Program Activities under Title I, Part C

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 requires that MEP funds should first be used to address the unique needs of migrant children that result from their migratory lifestyle or are needed to permit migrant children to participate effectively in school.

Migrant children are eligible for services under the regular Title I, Part A on the same basis as other children. MEP funds are intended to supplement services provided under Part A and other programs to meet the needs of migrant students that arise from their migrant status. [Section 1306(b)].

Both the State’s Consolidated Application to the U.S. Department of Education and the State’s comprehensive needs assessment delineate how the activities and services of the Texas MEP are assessed, delivered and evaluated based on addressing the identified needs of the State’s migrant student population.

How does an LEA design programs and services for migrant students?

The MEP-funded LEA must follow the priorities for the MEP established as a result of the State’s comprehensive needs assessment. The following priorities have been set and are reflected in the NCLB Consolidated Application process.

The needs identified through the Statewide CNA include the following:

1. Migrant first graders must develop sufficient skills for promotion to Grade 2.
2. Migrant students who failed TAKS must participate in summer TAKS remediation.
3. Migrant middle school students must use learning and study skills appropriate to learning.
4. Migrant middle school students must have timely attention and appropriate interventions related to problems or concerns that are academically and non-academically related.
5. Migrant middle school students must have the necessary homework assistance and tools at home essential for academic success.
6. Migrant secondary students must earn the required core credits for on-time graduation.
7. Migrant secondary students must make up course work they lack due to late enrollment or early withdrawal.
8. Migrant students who migrate outside of Texas in summer months must be served in summer migrant programs through the efforts of interstate coordination.

The LEA must assure that the priority for services (PFS) students are being served first in the above areas with MEP funds and then move down the line to the other groups of prioritized students (i.e., those failing TAKS with no school interruption, failing courses with school interruption, failing courses with no school interruption, etc.) according to the LEA’s documented needs assessment for the MEP.

In terms of parent involvement, the LEA must clearly document that it is operating a functioning migrant Parent Advisory Council (PAC) which meets on a regular basis with officers, agenda and written minutes.

For more information on the Migrant Education Program you can call
713-802-4646 or e-mail:
300 West 17th  Street
Houston, TX 77006
Route 6

Scott Bounds, Manager, Migrant Program
Agnes Eldridge, Special Populations Program Specialist