Title I, Part C - Education of Migratory Children

Title I, Part C - Education of Migratory Children

Published: 7/21/2026 11:21 AM

The Kentucky Department of Education receives a grant under Title I, Part C (migrant education program or MEP) for the purpose of establishing and improving programs and projects that are designed to meet the special educational needs of children of migratory agricultural workers or migratory fishers. The mission of the migrant education program is to provide leadership, technical assistance, and support to improve the educational opportunities and academic success of migrant children, youth, agricultural workers and fishers, and their families.

A migratory child is defined as a child who is not older than 21 years of age, who is determined eligible for the program based on

  • their own engagement, or a parent/guardian’s engagement in qualifying agricultural or fishing employment; and
  •  qualifying moves across school district lines (or between states) due to economic necessity.​​

The purposes of the MEP are to:

  • Assist States in supporting high-quality and comprehensive educational programs and services during the school year, and, as applicable, during summer or intersession periods, that address the unique educational needs of migratory children.
  • Ensure that migratory children who move among the States are not penalized in any manner by disparities among the States in curriculum, graduation requirements, and challenging State academic standards.
  • Ensure that migratory children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children are expected to meet.
  • Help migratory children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that inhibit their ability to succeed in school.
  • Help migratory children benefit from State and local systemic reforms.

(See section 1301 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).)​

IDRC Migrant Education Referral Form

The Kentucky Migrant Education Program (KYMEP) belongs to the Identification and Recruitment Consortium (IDRC) which assists the KYMEP with effective identification and recruitment of eligible students into the migrant education program (MEP). ​The MEP Referral System​ allows for the sharing of basic demographic information to process the referral of a family and student into the program. If you know of a child or youth that may be eligible for the migrant program, we encourage you to complete the information in the referral link. This referral information will only be sent to migrant recruiters in the appropriate region. The KYMEP welcomes the referrals made by employers, farmers, family members and business owners to help the KYMEP identify and serve Kentucky’s migrant students and their families.​​

Kentucky Regional Migrant Map

The KYMEP is divided into four regions. These regions are responsible for implementing or overseeing the migrant program in all the districts in their area. If you have questions about the migrant program in a particular school district or region, please use the contact information on the Kentucky Migrant Regions Map​.​

Basic Information and Forms

​Christina Benassi
Office of Continuous Improvement and Support
Division of School and Program Improvement
300 Sower Blvd., 5th Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-3791 Ext. 4025
Fax (502) 564-8149