The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The purpose of reauthorized ESEA is to close the achievement gap, so that no child is left behind, by providing all children the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education that will enable them to meet the challenging State academic achievement standards. The new law contains the most sweeping changes to the ESEA since it was enacted in 1965. It changes the Federal Government’s role in elementary and secondary education by measuring success in terms of what each student accomplishes. The law contains four basic education reform principles: stronger accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control, expanded options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work. These ideals are the foundation for the changes that schools, districts, and States will implement in the next few years.
The Migrant Education Program (MEP) is authorized by Part C of Title I of the ESEA. The MEP provides formula grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to establish or improve education programs for migrant children. These grants assist States in improving educational opportunities for migrant children to help them succeed in the regular school program, meet the challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards that all children are expected to meet, and graduate from high school.