In 1976, a group from California initiated efforts to work with Mexico on issues related to the education of students who migrate between California and Mexico. Thereafter, other border States became involved, giving birth to the Binational Migrant Education Program (BMEP). The program was initiated and supported by individual States that had a migrant student population that migrates regularly between Mexico and the United States.

In an effort to promote educational continuity, participants in the BMEP began to meet annually for the purpose of improving the education of those students. In August of 1990, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by officials within the Departments of Education in the United States and Mexico as a way to deepen and strengthen their working relationship with one another to enhance their efforts to improve primary, secondary, and postsecondary education in both countries. The MOU emphasis cooperation at the federal level and encourages joint activities at the state, local and institutional levels.

Annex V to the MOU that was signed in June 1998 re-established the Department's commitment to promote cooperation and coordination between the two countries. This Annex prompted the Office of Migrant Education to (1) encourage more State migrant programs to participate in the Binational activities, and to (2) help support the already established state Binational efforts with 1308 coordination monies.

The OME has identified the BMEP as an area where leadership initiatives may be helpful in supporting the effective administration and operation of the Migrant Education Program (MEP). Those activities include the following:

• Convene an annual meeting of State Directors who participate in the BMEP to discuss strategic plans, annual events, and operational issues.

• Convene a work group to (1) help design the U.S. BMEP presentation for the annual Mexico/USA BMEP Conference, and (2) recommend updates to the existing strategic plan.
• Support the dissemination of the strategic plan and materials related to operational issues (e.g., evaluation activities).
• Facilitate coordination efforts among States.

The OME has established core strategies to guide its administration of the MEP. One of these strategies is to improve the program function of coordination. The intent of the Binational program is to develop further the role that the OME plays in the coordination of activities among U.S. States that participate in programs with Mexican States to improve the continuity of educational and social services for migrant students who migrate between the two countries. The OME's specific objectives through involvement with the BMEP are as follows:

1. To support and strengthen the efforts of States participating in the U.S. Binational Migrant Education Program through the interstate coordination of programs.
2. To support a continuing dialogue and sharing of information between educators of migrant students in the U.S. and Mexico.
3. To contribute to and promote the implementation of binational cooperation in the field of education within the context of the United States-Mexico Memorandum of Understanding on Education.

If you have any questions, please contact Tara Ramsey, Office of Migrant Education, Lead Program Officer for the Binational Migrant Education Program.

Telephone: (202) 260-2063 E-mail: Tara.Ramsey@ed.gov

• Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests; Binational Migrant Education Program (BMEP) State MEP Director Survey Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests; Binational Migrant Education Program (BMEP) State MEP Director Survey (February 12, 2008)

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and annexes on Education between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Mexico. These documents were formed to promote a better understanding between the peoples of each country, to strengthen the relationship of the two countries through education, and to improve the educational systems of each country. (August 5, 2005)

• MOU MS WORD (28K)
• Annex VI - Activities for 2000-2002 MS WORD (24K)
• Annex VII - Activities for 2002-2004 MS WORD (28K)
• Annex VIII - Activities for 2004-2006 MS WORD (37K)

The Bilingual Teacher Exchange Program: A Guide for Supporting Education Without Borders is a publication that (1) describes the key components of a Binational Teacher Exchange Program, (2) explains the steps necessary to consider when planning and implementing a Binational Teacher Exchange Program, and (3) presents examples of successful strategies used in implementing a Binational Teacher Exchange Program. Through exchange programs, teachers have opportunities to learn first-hand about other countries' standards and benchmarks; testing requirements; curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices; general and special program offerings; class size and structure; successful teaching strategies; effective discipline methods; and expectations for parental involvement.
MS WORD (296K) | PDF (1.6M)