Separate and Unequal

A Report on Educational Barriers for Homeless Children & Youth

The right to equal access to a free public education is firmly established in federal law. Yet for homeless children and youth, the realization of that right has been an ongoing struggle.

Since 1990, NLCHP has examined the impact of homelessness on access to public education. In our previous reports, we documented the most common barriers facing homeless children and youth seeking to attend public schools.

Separate and Unequal updates these earlier reports with the results of a new survey, and in a special focus on a disturbing recent trend: the establishment of separate schools or classrooms for homeless children.

Going to school is often one of the few regular, fixed, and reliable aspects in the lives of homeless children. Regular school attendance gives homeless children the chance to be treated like all other children, and to experience the same routines and rituals. Yet homeless children and youth are often denied their right to attend public schools because of the following barriers: Residency Requirements; Lack of Records; Lack of Transportation; and Guardianship Requirements.

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