The Binational Teacher Exchange Program (BTEP) is a collaborative effort between the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Secretary of Foreign Relations), Secretaría de Educación Pública de México (Secretary of Public Education), and of individual states in Mexico, the Mexican Consulates, the Oregon Department of Education, and participating Migrant Education regional programs, and the Educational Service Districts that brings teachers from Mexico to spend three to eight weeks participating in the Migrant Education summer school activities. The exchange aims to promote a better understanding of the educational systems of Mexico and the United States of America to strengthen the educational process of students from both countries through the participation of teachers in training and professional development in a multicultural context.
During their exchange, teachers are not only asked to contribute and enhance knowledge of history, culture, values, and national traditions in students of Mexican origin living in the United States, but also to strengthen their national identity. This dual focus on education and identity improvement is a unique aspect of the program, enhancing the quality of education and fostering a stronger sense of national identity among students.
Mexican teachers foster and contribute to ongoing communication between teachers in the U.S. to share experiences and increase knowledge of teaching instruction within K-12 migrant summer schools. They collaborate with administrators, teachers, parents, and students during the migrant summer school program to improve educational services provided to students of Mexican origin living in both countries. They actively assist in teaching math, reading and writing, the sciences, history, and Mexican culture and provide support in other subjects.