42 U.S.C. § 11431 — Statement of policy

Each State educational agency^* shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual^* and each homeless^* youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.

In any State^* where compulsory residency requirements or other requirements, in laws, regulations, practices^*, or policies, may act as a barrier to the identification of, or the enrollment^*, attendance, or success in school of, homeless children and youths^*, the State educational agency and local educational agencies in the State will review and undertake steps to revise such laws, regulations, practices, or policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.

Homelessness is not sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.

Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services that such children and youths need to ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.