Until the 1980s, the American homeless population comprised mainly older males. Today, homelessness strikes much (67) part of society. In fact, a 25-city (68) by the U. S. Conference of Mayors in 1987 found that children make (69) the fastest growing part of the homeless population. Many homeless children (70) in inner cities; this transient (短暂的) and (71) frightened student population creates additional (72) --both legal and educational--for already overburdened urban school administrators and teachers. Estimates of the number of homeless Americans (73) from 350,000 to three million. (74) , estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Educat-ion report, (75) on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of (76) do not attend school on a regular basis, (77) the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times (78) many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school (79) One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count (80) of the "throwaway" youths who have been (81) out of their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not counted as children (82) they do not stay in family shelters and tend to (83) by themselves on the streets. Federal law, The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that (84) the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions of the McKinney Act are based on the belief (85) all homeless children have the right (86) a free, appropriate education.