U.S. CENSUS DATA ON NONENROLLMENT AND THE RESULTS OF A CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND (CDF) SURVEY OF CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL ARE PRESENTED TO ILLUSTRATE THE ALARMING NUMBER OF CHILDREN EXCLUDED FROM SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE TYPES OF CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL ARE OUTLINED, AND PROFILES OF EXCLUDED CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED. BARRIERS TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ARE EXAMINED IN THE THIRD SECTION OF THIS REPORT. AMONG THE REASONS FOR NONATTENDANCE EXAMINED IN THIS SECTION ARE TRUANCY, PREGNANCY, MARRIAGE, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, AND POVERTY. THE EXCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, OR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IS ALSO EXAMINED. INCLUDED IN THIS DISCUSSION IS A REVIEW OF SUCH PROBLEMS AS THE INADEQUACY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, MISCLASSIFICATION, AND THE DIFFICULTY OF IMPLEMENTING QUALITY PROGRAMS. FINALLY, SCHOOL DISCIPLINE AND ITS EXCLUSIONARY IMPACT ON STUDENTS ARE EXPLORED. THE APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE STATISTICS FROM THE CDF SURVEY AND U.S. CENSUS, A REVIEW OF STATUTORY PROVISIONS ON SCHOOL NONATTENDANCE, AND AN OUTLINE OF THE METHODOLOGY USED IN INTERPRETING U.S. CENSUS DATA AND CONDUCTING THE CDF SURVEY.