The variance is due to less students identified during the 2016-2017 reporting period. The possibility of the decrease may be due a decrease in mobility of families whose MEP eligibility expired. Less qualifying work activities were reported. Some parents reported fear of immigration enforcement.

Vermont's number of migratory students continues to decrease due to 2 main reasons:
1. The number of school-aged children in Vermont has decreased dramatically over the last 10 years and continues to decrease each year; and
2. The number of dairy farms (our #1 qualifying activity)continues to decrease each year. 
Both result in fewer and fewer migratory children.

Enrollment went down due to a decrease in OSY students as well as a shift in the ages of H2A workers. The majority of H2A workers coming in were over the age of 22. Dole, a major employer on the eastern shore, stopped housing families and now only employs single men. Deportation concerns impacted enrollment as well. MEPs statewide are also reporting some settling out is occurring which is impacting enrollment.

The reduction from 796 identified eligible migratory children in 2015-16 to 692 identified eligible migratory children in 2016-17 is a continuing trend in Wisconsin. A contributing factor is an increase in H-2A visa workers, who are mainly young adult males that do not bring families. We also noted that some of our returning families are now empty nesters and are no longer traveling with children. Some families refuse to be interviewed given the current political climate. Our data shows the overall migratory population in Wisconsin is becoming more widely dispersed rather than in concentrated numbers. This presents a new challenge for our Identification and Recruitment efforts. Wisconsin has re-evaluated Identification and Recruitment methods and is in the process of upgrading our data resources and re-structuring into a more flexible recruiter model to better assure the identification of all eligible migratory children. Transition to the new recruitment model will begin summer of 2018.

Connecticut ceased operating MEP programs as of June 30, 2007.