In a “dear colleague” letter released last week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) said that it has decided to change the data source it uses to calculate State allocations for the Migrant Education Program (MEP) under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
While allocations had previously been made based on data submitted through EDFacts and regular State performance reports, starting with fiscal year 2023 (the funding that States get beginning in July 2023), ED will use data submitted through the Migrant Student Information Exchange (MSIX) instead. ED’s letter also notes that submission of data to MSIX must be completed within exact timeframes and according to regulations published in 2016. Data for 2023 will be accessed in mid-December of this year.
ED says it will publish “hypothetical” allocations based on MSIX data later this summer to help States understand how funding will change and says it will provide “targeted technical assistance” to States that have “significant discrepancies” between the two allocation methodologies.
