What is the Migrant Education Program?

Migrant Education is a national program that provides supplemental educational and support services to eligible migrant children each year. These services help children of migrant workers overcome the disadvantages they face, one of which is disruption to their education due to mobility.

California's MEP is supported by both federal and state laws. Although the state law does not provide funding for the program, it does set out the administrative framework for delivering local MEP services through regional offices. The California MEP is the largest in the nation. One out of every three migrant students in the United States lives in California. In the 2018–19 school year, 78,947 youth ages 3–21 were identified as migratory youth in California.

According to ESSA the purpose of Migrant Education is:

1. To assist States in supporting high-quality and comprehensive educational programs and services during the school year and, as applicable, during summer or intersession periods, that address the unique educational needs of migratory children.
2. To 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 challenging State academic standards.
3. To ensure that migratory children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children are expected to meet.
4. 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 succeed in school.
5. To help migratory children benefit from State and local systemic reforms.

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