The Migrant Education Program is responsible for providing academic and supportive services to the children of families who migrate to find work in the agricultural and fishing industries.

Definition of a Migrant Child:
A migratory child is a child who is, or whose parent, spouse, or guardian is, a migratory agricultural worker or migratory fisher, and who, in the preceding 36 months, has moved from one school district to another, to obtain or accompany such parent, spouse, or guardian, in order to obtain temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work as a principal means of livelihood.
Federal Register, Part VII, July 3, 1995

Program Purpose: The purpose of the Migrant Education Program is to ensure that children of migrant workers have access to and benefit from the same free, appropriate public education, provided to other children.

Program Goals: The goal of the Migrant Education program is to ensure that all migrant students reach challenging academic standards and graduate with a high school diploma (or complete a GED) that prepares them for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment.

Administration: The MEP is administered by the following entities for the MDE:

Dr. Cynthia Ward, Executive Director
Mississippi Migrant Service Center
P. O. Box FL
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762

Additional Information on the MEP can be found at:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/mep/index.html