According to recent studies, families with children are now the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population: 40 percent of the homeless population consists of members of families. Forty-three percent of homeless children do not attend school, which provides children with a much-needed sense of place and continuity that they otherwise lack in their fragmented lives. Homeless children are deprived of their education in several ways: in some cases state or local "residency" requirements operate specifically to bar children without a fixed residence from attending school; in other cases the means necessary to obtain education--adequate transportation, school and medical records, special education programs, guardianship rules--are lacking. In July 1987 Federal legislation was enacted that for the first time addresses this issue: under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act state agencies are to ensure that homeless children have access to public education. Under the Act the Department of Education (DOE) was to make funds available to state authorities expeditiously, so that local programs would be operating before December 31, 1987. Contrary to this mandate, DOE has delayed implementation of the program, and has issued guidelines that, in effect, will make homeless children lose a school year. The DOE should rewrite its guidelines to expedite implementation of the program and to make badly-needed aid available. An appendix describes local programs that address the needs of homeless children in the following areas: (1) Salt Lake City, Utah; (2) San Diego, California; (3) Santa Clara, California; (4) State of Connecticut; (5) New York, New York. Another appendix is a reprint of "Subtitle B--Education of Homeless Children and Youth," from the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. (BJV)