Out-of-School Immigrant Youth

This report examines a little noticed group of Californians: young immigrants not in school and who receive few if any educational services. The authors also observe the federal Migrant Education Program (MEP), charged with helping this group. Using MEP and census data, the authors find that many out-of-school youth work, left school while quite young, and have very poor spoken English skills. Some are as young as 13, yet work and live without their parents. Many say they want to continue their education. If policymakers are to help this group, the authors say, strategies in addition to traditional education models may be necessary.