Migration Service Coordination

1. Support high-quality and comprehensiveeducational programs for migrant children to help reduce the educational disruptions and other problems that result from repeated moves;
2. 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 achievement and content standards;
3. Ensure that migrant children are provided with appropriate instructional and support services that address their special needs in a coordinated and efficient manner;
4. Ensure that migrant children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging state academic content and academic achievement standards that all children are expected to meet;
5. 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; and
6. Ensure that migrant children benefit from state and local systemic reforms.

1. Identification and Recruitment (Ages 3-21) 
2. New Generation System (Ages 0-21)
3. Migrant Service Coordination (Ages 0-21)
4. Parental Involvement (Ages 0-21)
5. Early Childhood (Ages 3-Grade 2)
6. Secondary Credit Accrual (Grades 9-12)
7. Graduation Enhancement (Grades 7-12)

1. Educational Continuity

   Due to their mobility, migrant students often face differences in curriculum, academic standards, homework policies and classroom routines, as well as inconsistent course placements.
2. Instructional Time

   Family mobility and delays in enrollment procedures may impact attendance patterns and the amount of time migrant students spend engaged in learning.
3. School Engagement

   Migrant students often face difficulties associated with adjusting to new school settings, making new friends and gaining social acceptance, issues which can be grouped according to (a) behavioral engagement, which relates to opportunities for participation in academic, social or extracurricular activities; (b) emotional engagement, which relates to positive and negative reactions to teachers, classmates, academic materials and school, in general; and (c) cognitive engagement, which relates to investment in learning and may be a response to expectations, relevance and cultural connections.
4. English Language Development

   Many migrant students have a home language other than English and may face language barriers which impact content area learning. However, in this particular area, it is important to note that providing MEP-funded services to meet needs related to a student’s limited English proficiency is rarely appropriate, due to the high risk of supplanting activities more appropriately funded through state bilingual/ESL or, when appropriate, Title III or other Federal programs.
5. Educational Support in the Home

   While many migrant parents value education very highly for their children, they may not have the educational resources or knowledge to provide the support expected by school staff.
6. Health

   Migrant children face higher proportions of dental, nutritional, acute and chronic health problems than non-migrant children and are more likely to be uninsured and have difficulty accessing health care to address health problems which are interfering with a student’s ability to succeed in school.
7. Access to Services

   As a result of language barriers or the mobile family’s newcomer status, migrant children and families often face difficulties accessing educational and educationally-related services to which they are entitled.

Eight Identified Needs of Texas Migrant Students

1. Migrant first graders must develop sufficient skills for promotion to Grade 2.
2. Migrant students who failed statewide assessments must participate in summer 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 intervention 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.

For information, contact the Grants Administration & Compliance Director at (956) 254-5024.

Additional Resources:

Migrant Education Basic State Formula Grants(U.S. Department of Education)