The Department was mandated by Congress, in Section 1308 (b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), to assist States in developing effective methods for the electronic transfer of student records and in determining the number of migratory children in each State. Further, Congress directed the Secretary, in Section 1308 (b)(2)(A) of the statute, to ensure the linkage of migrant student record systems. In accordance with the mandate, the Department has implemented the Migrant Student Information Exchange Initiative whose primary mission is to ensure the appropriate enrollment, placement, and accrual of credits for migrant children.

The Migrant Student Information Exchange (MSIX) is the technology that allows States to share educational and health information on migrant children who travel from State to State and who as a result, have student records in multiple States' information systems. MSIX works in concert with the existing migrant student information systems that States currently use to manage their migrant data to fulfill its mission to ensure the appropriate enrollment, placement, and accrual of credits for migrant children nationwide.

MSIX.ed.gov

The Office of Migrant Education's (OME) student record exchange initiative is a compilation of several projects, studies, and initiatives focused on determining and creating the most effective records transfer system.

Below is a description of the goals of MSIX:

1. Section 1308 (b) (2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires the Secretary to ensure the linkage of migrant student record systems for the purpose of electronically exchanging, among the States, health and educational information regarding all migratory students. As a result, the Department of Education developed the MSIX.

2. MSIX provides the technology that allow all States to share educational and health information on migrant children who travel from State to State due to their migratory lifestyle and who, as a result, have student records in multiple States' migrant student databases. Authorized representatives of State and local educational agencies will use MSIX to assist with school enrollment, grade placement, and accrual of course credits for migrant children nationwide. In doing so, MSIX will work in concert with the existing migrant student information systems that States currently use to manage their migrant student data.

3. The purpose of MSIX is to ensure greater continuity of educational services for migrant children by providing a mechanism for all States to exchange educational related information on migrant children who move from State to State due to their migratory lifestyle. It is anticipated that the existence and use of MSIX will help to improve the timeliness of school enrollments, improve the appropriateness of grade and course placements, and reduce incidences of unnecessary immunizations of migrant children. Further, MSIX will facilitate the accrual of course credits for migrant children in secondary school by providing accurate academic information on each student’s course history and academic progress.

4. States will also be able to notify each other when a migrant student is moving to a different State.

5. MSIX is now operational, and the Department of Education is continuing to work with each state to test its data.

OME has developed the user and system requirements to implement the records transfer system and will provide for overall system administration, maintenance and monitoring.

The primary goals and objectives of the MSIX are to:

Goal 1: Create an electronic exchange for the transfer of migrant student education and health data amongst the States.

Objective 1.1: Design, develop, and build the Migrant Student Information Exchange.
Objective 1.2: Efficiently collect and maintain complete and accurate migrant student education and health data needed for the purpose of record exchange.
Objective 1.3: Provide users with a consolidated migrant student record in a timely manner in order to facilitate enrollment, placement, and accrual of credits for migrant students.
Objective 1.4: Reduce the burden of collecting, maintaining, and exchanging migrant student records.

Goal 2: Promote the use of MSIX.

Objective 2.1: Conduct consultation with States in the design, development and implementation of the MSIX.
Objective 2.2: Disseminate information on the requirements, Availability and benefits of the MSIX to prospective Users.
Objective 2.3: Provide training and help desk support to data users and providers.

Goal 3: Ensure the use of the consolidated migrant student record for the purposes of enrollment, placement, and accrual of credit of migrant students in school and migrant education projects.

Objective 3.1: Monitor compliance with records exchange requirements for the production of the consolidated migrant student records.
Objective 3.2: Monitor the use of the consolidated student record for the intended purposes of school enrollment, placement and accrual of credits.
Objective 3.3: Provide best practices, incentives, and penalties to continuously encourage and expand the use of the consolidated record.

Goal 4: Produce national data on the migrant population.

Objective 4.1: Provide the stakeholders with census data and statistics on unduplicated national migrant population.
Objective 4.2: Use unduplicated data for the generation of accurate, consistent child counts.

Update on records transfer initiative activities:

1. 66 Minimum Data Elements (MDEs) were created with feedback from the States. This is the information that all States must collect and provide for each migrant student. Click on the link below to see the most current version of the MDEs.

2. The Department has provided training to at least one State representative (in most cases, two) on the use of the MSIX records exchange system.

3. States have started to load test data into the system for further testing.

4. The Department distributed a memo to each State's CSSO describing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and how it relates to MSIX.

FERPA and MSIX Memo (April 2008)
MS WORD (451K) | PDF (2M)

5. Each State's MEP Director and CSSO received an Interconnectivity Agreement (IA) and Interconnectivity Security Agreement (ISA) that each State and the Department must sign. The IA and ISA ensure that each party understands its responsibilities when exchanging data between State electronic information systems and MSIX.

Assistant Secretary's letter to the States regarding the IAs and ISAs (March 18, 2008)
PDF (243K)

6. The Department intends to offer further training and User Group meetings to address questions and issues States may have regarding the use of MSIX.

List of Minimum Data Elements
MS WORD (197K)

MSIX Privacy Impact Assessment
MS Word (22K)

Jennifer K. Dozier, (202) 205-4421, or Alejandra.Velez-Paschke, (202) 260-2834

The Migrant Student Information Exchange State Data Quality Grant program provides additional resources to State educational agencies (SEAs) receiving MEP Basic Formula Grant awards in order to assist them and their local operating agencies (LOAs) in implementing the interstate exchange of migrant children's records electronically through the MSIX.

• MSIX State Data Quality Grants of proposed requirements (April 1, 2008)

• Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records--Migrant Student Information Exchange; Notice of a new system of records (December 5, 2007)

National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education (NASDME) Conference (April 20-23, 2008) presentations

MSIX Basics PDF (3 MB) | MSIX Hot Topics PDF (1 MB) | Building Records Exchange Beyond MSIX PDF (239 KB)

  E-mail to Train The Trainer participants announcing MSIX (December 3, 2007) MS WORD (33M)

Train-The-Tranier (TTT) Presentation
PDF (3.15 MB)

Texas Migrant Education Conference (November 28, 2007)
Presentation PDF (1.2M)

Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program Conference (November 6, 2007)
PDF (2.95 MB)

MSIX National Identification and Recruitment Conference (October 19, 2007)
Presentation PDF (3M) | Handout MS WORD (216K)

National Center for Education Statistics MSIX Presentation (July 2007) PDF (1.8M)

A copy of the final full Report to Congress entitled Education of Migratory Children - Maintenance and Transfer of Health and Educational Information For Migrant Students by the States, is now available.
PDF (212K) | MS WORD (304K)

The report addresses the following required contents as described under section 1308(b)(4) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB):

1. a review of the progress of States in developing and linking electronic records transfer systems;
2. recommendations for the development and linkage of such systems; and
3. recommendations for measures that may be taken to ensure the continuity of services provided for migratory students.

Additional resources:

State Directors Memo
MS WORD (2.7M) | PDF (296K)

Letter to Chief State School Officers
PDF (736K)

FAQ's regarding the MSIX application (March 2007)
MS WORD (1.6M) | PDF (1.7M)

Find general information about MSIX in this brochure
PDF (1M) | Spanish Version: PDF (233 KB)

1. What does the statute require regarding the transfer of student records?

   Section 1304(b)(3) requires SEAs to promote interstate and intrastate coordination by providing educational continuity through the timely transfer of pertinent school records (including health information) when children move from one school to another, whether or not the move occurs during the regular school year.

2. Why is this requirement an important aspect of the MEP?

   The timely transfer of student records can be an effective means of reducing the effects of educational disruption on migrant students. It enables school officials (e.g., school registrars, teachers, and guidance counselors) to make appropriate decisions regarding a student's enrollment in school, grade placement, and academic plan (including, but not limited to, credit accrual and exchange).

3. How do SEAs comply with this requirement?

   SEAs or local operating agencies must request the records of eligible migrant children who arrive in their State or district and must transmit records of those migrant children who move out of their State or district to another location in a timely manner.

4. Will SEAs be required to develop effective methods for electronic transfer of migrant student records?

   Yes. Section 1308(b)(1) of the statue requires the Department to assist States in providing for the electronic transfer of migrant student records.

   System of Records Notice (December 5, 2007)

5. Will SEAs be required to link migrant record systems for the purpose of electronically exchanging health and educational information regarding migrant children among States?

   Yes. Section 1308(b)(2) requires the Department to ensure the linkage of migrant student records systems for this purpose. The statue requires the Department to consult with States in performing this task. The Department is currently in the process of developing and implementing this requirement.

6. Who will implement the Migrant Student Information Exchange?

   The Office of Migrant Education (OME) awarded a contract on September 30, 2006 to provide software design, development, implementation and maintenance for the Migrant Student Information Exchange (MSIX) to Deloitte Consulting, LLP (Deloitte). Deloitte is a large systems integrator with experience in providing technology solutions in the K-12 education arena and also over eight years experience in providing technology solutions for the Department of Education. Deloitte will partner with eScholar, LLC, the nation's leading provider of K-12 longitudinal data systems.

7. What are the timeline for developing the Migrant Student Information Exchange?

   The Department will have a two pilot implementation approach. The first pilot will occur in March 2007, the second pilot will occur in June 2007 and full implementation will occur in September 2007.

8. How will States provide input to the design and development of the Migrant Student Information Exchange?

   As the MSIX is designed, developed, and implemented, States can anticipate that the MSIX Team will reach out to them for consultation and for volunteers to participate in MSIX pilot projects, user groups, and special interest meetings.

9. What lead-time will OME give the States to prepare their systems to maintain the minimum data elements?

   OME anticipates that the States will have a minimum of six months after official notice by the Department before being required to maintain the minimum data elements in their Information systems for the purpose of linking and transferring migrant student records.

10. Who can I contact for more information?

    You may contact Jennifer Dozier, MSIX project manager at 202-205-4421 or via email at Jennifer.Dozier@ed.gov or Alejandra Velez-Paschke, at 202-260-2834 or via email at Alejandra.Velez-Paschke@ed.gov for an immediate response to your question.

11. How can I find out more about Deloitte Consulting LLP and e-Scholar?

    www.deloitte.com and www.escholar.com