Find below important resources and information about the New York State Migrant Education Program (NYS-MEP) which is intended to assist you in ensuring that the needs of migrant-eligible children and their families in your district are met. If there are students whom you believe may meet the eligibility requirements of the MEP program or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Migrant Education Tutorial and Support Services (METS) program center in your region.
Find the METS in Your Region
Use the map to find contact information for program centers and recruiters.
For Your Action
Please use these tools or other similar tools during registration to identify students who may be eligible for NYS-MEP programs and services.
Identification and Recruitment (ID&R) Parent Survey (English)
Used to identify students who may be eligible for NYS-MEP services. Also available in Nepali and Spanish. Choose one of the following options to submit the information. The NYS-MEP will follow up with families to determine student eligibility for migrant services.
- Fax the completed ID&R Parent Survey (Attn: Will Messier) to 607-436-3606.
- Mail the completed ID&R Parent Survey to: NYS Migrant Education Program Identification and Recruitment Office | Attn: Will Messier |100 Saratoga Village Blvd, Suite 41 | Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
- Complete the ID&R Referral Form using the button below (currently in English only). Information submitted via this form is securely shared only with ID&R staff for the protection of personal identifiable information (PII).
Letter to Superintendents (August 2022)
Issued by the State Department of Education, this letter accompanies the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) for a new migrant-eligible student who has been formally identified. The letter includes information and instructions for school districts to ensure that the unique needs of migrant students and their families are met. For a sample CoE, please see: Certificate of Eligibility.
State Education Department Memo re: Migrant Student Data Verification (March 2024)
This memo was released as part of the P-12 Weekly eBlast to District Superintendents, Superintendents of Public Schools, and Chief Information Officers/District Data Coordinators. The New York State Education Department requires each school district to verify students coded as migrant-eligible in its student data management system against a list of students that have been issued official Certificates of Eligibility (COE) for migrant education program eligibility and participation.
Follow-up Letter re: Migrant Student Data Verification (April 2023)
(to Districts who HAVE school aged students who are migrant-eligible)
This sample letter is sent by the regional METS Director to Superintendents of Public Schools, Chief Information Officers, and District Data Coordinators. It is intended as follow up to the State Education Department Memo re: Migrant Student Data Verification and provides specific instructions on how to complete the data reconciliation process for districts who have school aged students who are migrant-eligible.
Follow-up Letter re: Migrant Student Data Verification (April 2023)
(to Districts who do NOT have school aged students who are migrant-eligible)
This sample letter is sent by the regional METS Director to Superintendents of Public Schools, Chief Information Officers, and District Data Coordinators. It is intended as follow up to the State Education Department Memo re: Migrant Student Data Verification and provides specific instructions on how to complete the data reconciliation process for districts who do not have school aged students who are migrant-eligible.
For Your Information
The New York State Migrant Education Program (NYS-MEP) is a federally-funded supplemental program that supports the implementation of educational and support services for migrant-eligible children and their families in the State. Read more About the NYS-MEP and Services provided.
Parents are entitled to certain rights in supporting their children's education. Please see below for those rights that pertains to migrant students and their families.
New York State ESSA-Funded Programs Complaint Procedures
Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security (Parents' Bill of Rights)
See the Advocacy page for information about:
- School District responsibilities for interpretation and translation for limited English proficient parents and guardians
- Provision of Educational Services for Recently Arrived Unaccompanied Children and Youth
For Your Attention
Additional programs and services for migrant-eligible students:
Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program ( Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act)
At the beginning of each school year, the regional METS program centers send each school district a list of current migrant-eligible students. These students are categorically eligible for free lunch and breakfast without completing the application.
Students whose three-year migrant eligibility has lapsed, but who continues to receive services are not categorically eligible for free lunch and breakfast. These students may qualify by completing the application from the school district.
Esperanza American Rescue Plan for Children and Youth
The American Rescue Plan for Homeless Children and Youth program is administered under the New York State Education Department. This state grant-funded program works together with School Districts, Migrant Programs, homeless shelters, and community-based agencies to provide a combination of advocacy and supplementary educational services to children and youth living in temporary or transitional housing. Services include emergency assistance, school supplies, personal-care items, nutritional support, as well as outreach and advocacy to connect children with their schools. For additional information, please see the New York State Technical and Educational Assistance Center for Homeless Students (NYSTEACHS) or call (800) 388-2014.
LEA Policy on the Education of Students in Temporary Housing - LEAs are required to periodically review and revise policies for students in temporary housing to ensure that there are no barriers to school attendance and participation. Each LEA is required to designate a McKinney-Vento Liaison to fulfill all the Roles and Responsibilities outlined in the sample policy. To support those requirements, the NYS Department of Education shared a Sample LEA Policy on the Education of Students in Temporary Housing (December 14, 2023).