In this comprehensive primer, author Judith A. Gouwens describes the many factors that complicate the education of migrant children, youth, and adults. For many migrant families, their children's work is necessary if the family is to earn enough money to subsist. Added to this are problems with constantly transferring school records of mobile students, the inability of parents to communicate with teachers and school administrators in their native tongue, and the differences between Mexico and the United States in the culture of education.

Migrant Education discusses who migrant workers are, the conditions that interfere with the educational success of migrant children, how the issue has been addressed historically, and how to break the cycle of educational disadvantage. It also includes a chronology, directories, and bibliographies.