Migrant graduation specialists Understanding their role in supporting secondary migrant students

This action research study examined the role of the Migrant Graduation Specialists in public middle schools, junior high schools, and high schools participating in a special project called HOPE (Honing in On Post-secondary Education); and analyzed the viewpoint of migrant students participating in this project in order to determine their perception of the role of the Migrant Graduation Specialists in supporting secondary migrant students. Specifically, this study considered the following research questions: (a) What is the nature of the Migrant Graduation Specialists' role? (b) Which MGS activities have the most impact on secondary migrant students? (c) How do migrant students view their experience in school? and (d) What is the effectiveness of the MGS role in supporting secondary migrant students? The purpose and research questions for this action research helped guide this study throughout this process of inquiry. Additionally, this study relied on qualitative data, including individual interviews, focus groups, field notes and participant observation with Migrant Graduation Specialists and secondary migrant students. The data revealed eight findings critical to understanding the role of the Migrant Graduation Specialist (MGS) position. One of the key findings was that MGSs are there specifically to be the migrant students' biggest advocate. Also, data points out to the importance of providing migrant students with access to leadership skill building opportunities and extracurricular activities