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.

Instructional Time

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.