To respond to the needs of homeless students, Congress enacted the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in 1987 to ensure that homeless students had access to a public education. The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015 introduced new amendments to the McKinney Act, which affect how schools interact with homeless students. Among the changes are an expansion of support for preschool children and clarifying support for high school students acquisition of graduation credits.

"What homeless children need most of all is a home. While they are experiencing homelessness, however, children desperately need to remain in school. School is one of the few stable, secure places in the lives of homeless children and youth — a place where they can acquire the skills needed to help them escape poverty." — National Coalition for the Homeless, August 2007