The Migrant Education Program
West-Central Region
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Since 1967 the Colorado Migrant Education Program (MEP) has been working to ensure that migrant children fully benefit from the same free public education provided to other children. To achieve this, the MEP supports educational programs for migrant children to help reduce the educational disruptions and other problems that result from repeated moves.
As part of the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado MEP is federally funded under Title I, Part C of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. Children who qualify for the program are identified and recruited by regional educational agencies throughout the state, and the local educational agencies and school districts are responsible for providing services to children enrolled in the program.
The purposes of the Migrant Education Program (MEP) are to:
• Ensure that migrant children have the opportunity to meet the same challenging state content and
achievement standards that all children are expected to meet
• Support high quality and comprehensive educational programs for migrant children to help reduce educational and other problems that result from repeated moves
• Ensure that migrant children are provided with appropriate education and support services that address their special needs in a coordinated and efficient manner
• Design programs to help migrant 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 and prepare them for a successful transition to post-secondary education or employment
Who qualifies for the migrant education program?
Children between 3 and 21 years of age, who have not received a high school diploma or its equivalent, have moved from one school district to another in the past 3 years with their parent or guardians, whose parents guardians, spouses, or selves have moved to obtain or seek seasonal or temporary work in agricultural production or fisheries that provides a principal means of livelihood for the worker and family are eligible for the program.
Benefits of the migrant education program include:
• Collaboration to help families communicate with teachers, administrators and school staff
• Support in enrolling children in school and helping them succeed
• Assistance in understanding school policy, requirements and forms
• School supplies and books when available
• Registration costs for students to attend conferences, workshops, and trainings
• Medical, dental and mental health care as available
• Fun family events to celebrate cultural traditions and diverse life experiences.
• Parent involvement opportunities such as training at local parent meetings on assisting children with homework, understanding school policies and procedures
• Eligibility for free meals at school
• Information and referral to community agencies that provide assistance with food, clothing, health, dental, legal issues, housing, employment, and other social services
• Participation in the Binational Migrant Education Program (BMEP). The BMEP provides coordination between schools in the U.S. and Mexico to help binational students enroll in school and accrue credits for school work completed in each country. This program provides students their grades, so they may enroll in school when they return to Mexico and have their credits accepted and an appropriate educational placement made. This document is also used for students returning to the United States from Mexico to assist in their educational placement.
• Access to the National Migrant Education Hotline (1-800.234.8848) provides educational assistance to migrant farm worker children.
Address: |
Basil T Knight Center,
596 North Westgate Dr.
Grand Junction, CO 81505 |
Fax Number: |
970.254.5495 |