Title I - Part C - Education of Migratory Children

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• Eligibility Criteria
• Certificate of Eligibility

Funds support high quality education programs for migratory children and help ensure that migratory children who move among the states are not penalized in any manner by disparities among states in curriculum, graduation requirements, and LEA content and achievement standards. Funds also ensure that migratory children not only are provided with appropriate educational services (including supportive services) that address their special needs but also that such children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging LEA content and achievement standards that all children are expected to meet.

Federal funds are allocated by formula to state education agencies, based on each state's per pupil expenditure for education and counts of eligible migratory children, ages 3 through 21, residing within the state.

Overview of Title I, Part C - Education of Migratory Children (2009-07-23)

Eligibility Criteria

According to sections 1115(b)(1)(A) and 1309(2) of the statute and section 200.81(d) of the regulations, a child is eligible for the Migrant Education Program (MEP) if:

1. The child is younger than 22 and has not graduated from high school or does not hold a high school equivalency certificate; and
2. The child is a migrant agricultural worker or a migrant fisher or has a parent, spouse or guardian who is a migrant agricultural worker or a migrant fisher; and
3. The child has moved within the preceding 36 months in order to obtain (or seek) or to accompany (or join) a parent, spouse, or guardian to obtain (or seek), temporary or seasonal employment in qualifying agricultural or fishing work; and
4. Such employment is a principal means of livelihood; and
5. The child
   1. Has moved from one school district to another; or
   2. In a State that is comprised of a single school district, has moved from one administrative area to another within such district; or
   3. 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 to engage in a fishing activity (this currently applies only to Alaska).

Certificate of Eligibility

As a result of the Federal Migrant Education monitoring visit conducted in May, 2009, it was determined that Iowa school districts must complete a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) on ALL students identified as migrant according to the Federal definition. This requirement applies to every district that identifies migrant students on Project Easier regardless of whether the district receives Federal Migrant Education funding.

All COEs must be sent to the State Migrant Education Program Coordinator for review and approval. Upon review and approval, districts will be notified as to the migrant students who are eligible for free meals through your school lunch program. Ineligible students cannot receive free meals.

National Certificate of Eligibility Instructions (2009-07-23)

Form for COE

Form for COE in Spanish