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School Attendance Support for Students Experiencing Homelessness

This page highlights how – and why – schools and communities can remove attendance barriers for students experiencing homelessness. Explore data, practical resources, and examples that promote school stability, reduce chronic absenteeism, and support student success.

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Why Addressing Student Homelessness Is Essential to Reducing Chronic Absence

Millions of students are not showing up to school. For students experiencing homelessness, school can be a source of stability in otherwise turbulent lives and a place of opportunity to gain the education and skills they need to avoid homelessness as adults. Yet unprecedented levels of homelessness are creating barriers that push students away from school.

In 2023–2024, public schools identified more than 1.5 million children and youth experiencing homelessness, a 13% increase from the previous year.

Many face barriers to regular attendance, including high mobility, trauma, lack of transportation, and unmet basic needs. Nearly half were chronically absent, a rate 22 percentage points higher than other students.

This page highlights how full implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act, especially transportation supports, can help remove attendance barriers, promote school stability, reduce chronic absenteeism, and support student success.

It’s hard to get to school every day when you’re experiencing homelessness—whether it is access to public transportation, food, clothing, sleep, fear of bullying because of your appearance, or the lack of material things (not having a backpack or necessary school supplies or support at home). Schools don’t always address these student insecurities. They run through a standard checklist, but there isn’t always strong follow through.
– Tina
SchoolHouse Connection Scholar

New: Local Educational Agency (LEA) Toolkit–Improving Attendance for Students Experiencing Homelessness

Provides “plug and play” materials that districts are already using to improve attendance for students experiencing homelessness, so LEAs can begin implementing effective practices right away. Resources come from urban, suburban, and rural districts across the country and are designed to be downloaded and adapted to local needs. Together, they help districts move from ideas to action and strengthen attendance support for McKinney-Vento students.

Best for: School district staff | School staff | LEA
Last updated: April 2026
Partner: Attendance Works
Funder: Imagine Learning Foundation

Explore the LEA Toolkit

Resource Library

Henrico County: A Data-Driven Approach With Heart

Case study | PDF

This case study shows how a district combined attendance data, transportation, intake, and community partnerships to improve attendance and graduation outcomes, and is especially useful for teams designing a strong central-office model.

Best for: School district staff | School staff | LEA
Date published: March 2025
Partner: Attendance Works
Funder: Imagine Learning Foundation

Adams 12: Breaking Down Silos to Boost Regular Attendance Rates

Case study | PDF

This case study highlights a culturally diverse district team, automated attendance alerts, case management, and wraparound supports, and is best for districts building cross-silo systems to improve attendance.

Best for: School district staff | School staff | LEA
Date published: March 2025
Partner: Attendance Works
Funder: Imagine Learning Foundation

Coalinga-Huron Unified School District: A Small Rural District, Making a Big Difference in Absenteeism

Case study | PDF

This rural case study shows how weekly team huddles, county-level coordination, and community partnerships can reduce chronic absenteeism, and is especially useful for small districts looking for a repeatable data-and-team model.

Best for: School district staff | School staff | LEA
Date published: March 2025
Partner: Attendance Works
Funder: Imagine Learning Foundation

Kansas City, Kansas: Partnering to Reduce Chronic Absence Amid Rising Homelessness

Case study | PDF

This case study shows how attendance and homelessness initiatives can be integrated through school-based specialists, transportation supports, and wraparound services, and is especially useful for districts aligning attendance teams with McKinney-Vento work.

Best for: School district staff | School staff | LEA
Date published: March 2025
Partner: Attendance Works
Funder: Imagine Learning Foundation

From Student Navigators to Mental Health Assessments: More Best Practices to Increase School Attendance for Students Experiencing Homelessness

Brief | Case study collection | PDF

This collection of district examples highlights student navigation, family outreach, mental health supports, and other strategies that help students stay connected to school, and is best for users who want more models beyond the four featured case studies.

Best for: School district staff | School staff | LEA | National
Date published: March 2025
Partner: Attendance Works
Funder: Imagine Learning Foundation