Migrant Education Program
Overview
The Migratory Education Program (MEP) serves the vital purpose of guaranteeing that children of migrant workers have equal access to free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, as provided to all other children This program is sponsored under the auspices of Title I, P.L. 103-382, Part C of the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994 (IASA), enacted: October 20, 1994. This statute amends and extends the preceding Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), P.L. 100-297. The MEP offers academic, health and wellness, and counseling services. In addition, and when needed, referrals and family support programming are also provided.
Student Eligibility
Children who are migrants and have had the basis for the MEP eligibility properly recorded may receive services. A child is eligible for MEP services if he or she :
- Is younger than 22 and has not graduated from high school or does not hold a high school equivalency certificate. Or if the child is too young to attend school-sponsored programs, but is old enough to benefit from an organized instructional program, they too can participate in the MEP program.
- Is a migrant agricultural worker, a migrant fisher or has a parent, spouse, or guardian who is a migrant agricultural worker or a migrant fisher;
- Performs, or has a parent, spouse, or guardian who performs, qualifying agricultural or fishing employment as a principal means of livelihood; has moved within the preceding 36 months to obtain, or to accompany or join a parent, spouse, or guardian to obtain, temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural of fishing work;
- has moved from one school district to another.
- Tiene menos de 22 años y no se ha graduado de la escuela secundaria ni posee un certificado de equivalencia de escuela secundaria. Si el niño es demasiado pequeño para asistir a programas patrocinados por la escuela, pero tiene la edad suficiente para beneficiarse de un programa educativo organizado, también puede participar en el Programa de Educación para Migrantes (MEP).
- Es un trabajador agrícola migrante, un pescador migrante, o tiene un padre, cónyuge o tutor que es trabajador agrícola migrante o pescador migrante.
- Realiza, o tiene un padre, cónyuge o tutor que realiza, trabajo agrícola o pesquero calificado como principal medio de sustento; se ha mudado dentro de los últimos 36 meses para obtener, o para acompañar o reunirse con un padre, cónyuge o tutor que obtuvo, empleo temporal o estacional en trabajo agrícola o pesquero.
- Se ha trasladado de un distrito escolar a otro.
Program Services
Academic Services
Counseling Services
Health Services
Family Support
Referral Services
Resources
Goals
To fulfill its mission, the MEP collaborates with state and local education agencies to eliminate obstacles hindering the school enrollment, attendance, and achievement of migrant children. The statutory goals of the MEP are to:
ERESC runs three special education and alternative schools (Essex Junior Academy K-8th, Essex Campus Academy, and Essex High School) and Sojourn High School for grades 7th to 12th at the Essex County youth detention center.
ERESC Schools
Administration
Programs