Getting an Education - Homeless Children

Homelessness harms children in many ways, including hindering their ability to attend and succeed in school. Homeless children have difficulty with transportation to school, maintaining necessary documents, and attaining privacy needed for homework, sleep, and interaction with parents in a shelter. Experts report that homeless children—compared with children who are poor but housed—miss more days of school, more often repeat a grade, and are more often put into special education classes.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 (PL 100–77) required in Title VII, subtitle B, that each state provide "free, appropriate, public education" to homeless youth. The law further required that all states develop a plan to address the denial of access to education to homeless children.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001 went further to address inequities that affect homeless children in the public school system. New guidance for states and school systems released by the Department of Education in April 2003 noted the main differences between the old and new programs:

• Homeless children may no longer be segregated in a separate program on the basis of their homeless status.
• Schools must immediately enroll homeless students even if they are missing some of the documentation normally required.
• Upon parental request, states and school districts must provide transportation for homeless children to the school they attended before they became homeless.
• School districts must designate a local liaison for homeless children and youths.