The education of young people in America impacts the economy and our future. The National Center on Family Homelessness (2010) reported that approximately 1.16 million children did not graduate from high school during the 2005-2006 school year. Research shows that school dropouts are more likely to be in poorer health, to die young, to become parents at a younger age, to interact with the criminal justice system, to need social assistance, and for their children to have higher probability of dropping out of school (Amos, 2008). According to the Alliance for Excellent Education (2011), the number of Tennessee high school dropouts in the class of 2010 was 28,200 students. Broadbent (2008) noted that the primary barrier in young people's experience of homelessness is maintaining connection to education. Broadbent also indicated that homeless children lack necessary life skills, such as acquiring housing, food, clothing and cognitive skills. Schliesman (2003) identified programs to assist adolescents with supplemental income, basic needs, and counseling. Coates and Mckenzie-Mohr (2010) noted that homeless youth require other assistance beyond shelter and counseling. Although assistance would improve their current quality of life, a high school diploma is necessary to obtain a job and enrich the financial prospects of the homeless. Educational barriers and dropout rates impact the future earnings potential of homeless children. Israel, Toro, and Oullette (2010) noted that homeless people have a lower income level than poor people who have never experienced homelessness. The impact of earning a high school diploma is likely to improve the financial future of an individual who has experienced homelessness (Day, 2011; Greenstone & Looney, 2011). If young people drop out of high school...... half of paper ......ionalhomeless.org/factsheet/How_Many.htmlNational Institute for Literacy. (2009). National Literacy Facts. Illinois Literacy, 2. Retrieved from the Literacy Reference Center database. Newman, R. (1999). Educating homeless children: Witnessing a cataclysm. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc. Polakow, V. (2007). In the shadow of the proprietary society: homeless children and their families. In S. Books', (ed.), Invisible children in society and its schools (pp. 39-62). Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Quint, S. (1994). Schooling homeless children: A working model for American public schools. New York: Teachers College Press.Schliesman, K. (2003). From homeless to hopeful. Inside Tucson Business, 13(4), 6. Retrieved from the Regional Business News database. Sinatra, R. (2007). Literacy success with homeless children. Journal of Risky Issues, 13(2), 1-9.