• IMEC was established in 1983.
  

Funding for IMEC comes from membership fees. IMEC may also accept grants and donations.

IMEC members are prominent individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to enhance educational opportunities for migrant students who are without a natural advocacy group. They examine policy issues concerning coordination between public and private agencies, including all levels of government. IMEC members have included chief state school officers, state legislators, state board of education members, state education agency personnel, local and district representatives and state directors of migrant education, a parent, and an employer of migrant families.

Each state determines its own representatives.  It is recommended that one representative be directly involved in the administration of the migrant education program and the other representatives be more general policy persons.

IMEC is also governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Every aspect of IMEC’s governance and activities are determined by the membership.  The bylaws are approved by the membership, which include the fee structure.  The membership also approves the annual budget, the leadership, the strategic plan and all meeting agendas and specific activities.

IMEC operates by consensus.  A process has been designed that virtually assures unanimous support for all of IMEC’s goals, activities and recommendations.  This means that when IMEC presents recommendations, it can be emphasized that the recommendations are supported by all the member states.

IMEC is a 501-C not-for-profit corporation.