MSU Identification and Recruitment

 

The Michigan State University Identification and Recruitment (MSU ID&R) Center is a part of the Michigan Migrant Education Program (MiMEP). The MSU ID&R Center provides leadership, training, technical assistant for all MiMEP programs statewide. The MSU ID&R Center also provides direct recruitment and support of migratory children in 63 of Michigan’s 83 counties.

Goals of the Program

• Identify migratory children who are eligible for the MiMEP.
• Provide migratory children with referrals to supportive services.
• Improve recruitment activities across all MiMEP programs.
• Facilitate coordination of services among migrant programs in Michigan and the rest of the nation.

The MSU ID&R Center operates in 63 counties in the north, central and eastern areas of the state to identify migratory students. Our focus is on identifying migratory youth that reside in Michigan but in school districts that don’t currently operate MEP programs. Our recruiters visit farms and housing attempting to find any child that might qualify for the MiMEP. If found eligible after a brief interview, children will be provided with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).  MSU IDR Center staff will help with enrollment into school, ensuring they are receiving free or reduced school lunches, and helping to arrange for tutoring, language support, or any other assistance that might support their academic needs.

In additional to enrolling children is school based programs, ID&R Center staff will facilitate access to other support for basic needs from local agencies. Additionally, migratory youth are usually eligible for similar services across the entire United States as part of Title IC Education of Migratory Children (MEP). The MEP supports high-quality and comprehensive educational programs for migratory children, addressing the educational disruptions caused by repeated moves.

Successful recruitment efforts are dependent in a significant part by referrals provided by other agencies, schools and the community. If you think a child might qualify as migratory, please do not hesitate to contact the ID&R Center. All referrals are confidential and protected by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

About Migratory Children

The population of migratory children is very diverse. The majority of migratory children served in Michigan travel from within the state, move from Texas or Florida, or another state or region. While most children move domestically, a small percentage of students come from Mexico and Central America. While many children are Hispanic, race or national origin are not factors considered when determining eligibility. A common misconception is that migratory children are immigrant children, which is generally not the case.

Migratory children are those youth who have moved in the last 3 years to a new school district due to themselves or their parent/guardian’s work in agriculture or fishing. A migratory child can be a newborn or up to 21 years of age, as long as they have not yet obtained a GED or High School Diploma. Migratory children are considered “at risk” in terms of education due to the disruptions of multiple moves and often meet other social and economic risk factors. The supports provided by Migrant Education Programs is designed to address the academic, as well as basic needs, of migratory children to give them an equal chance at success in school as their non-migratory peers.