Emerging Leaders 2016 AASL Project: Introduction
Introduction
In the U.S., migrant-worker families can be defined as families who migrate to find work in agriculture or fishing industries. 77% of migrant workers polled reported Mexican born ethnicity. Children of migrant workers move frequently throughout the school year. According to the Office of Migrant Education, the children of migrant workers face challenges, which include poverty, language, and cultural barriers, while dealing with the effects of migratory lifestyle on their education.
Education can be a challenge for children of migrant workers, due to frequent relocation throughout the school year and low educational attainment by their parents. However, it is important to note that studies have frequently cited a strong desire by migrant parents to help their children succeed academically. School librarians can help close the achievement gap between migrant and non-migrant students by providing additional support for migrant-worker families through innovative programs and non-traditional opportunities for family engagement. In areas with large migrant-worker populations, school librarians can establish partnerships with outside organizations who support migrant education efforts and initiatives.
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Note
A Note On Terminology
Throughout this document the acronym SIFE will be used to represent the phrase "students with interrupted formal education."