When Home Isn’t Stable, School Can Be Harder: How Homelessness Impacts Children’s Education

For children, school is more than a place to learn. It is a place where they build relationships, develop routines, explore their interests, and gain the skills they need for the future. But when a family is experiencing homelessness, simply getting to school and being ready to learn can become much more difficult. Housing instability can bring frequent moves, disrupted routines, transportation challenges, stress and uncertainty, all of which can interfere with a child’s ability to fully participate in school. Research from the Institute of Education Sciences has found that children experiencing homelessness face significantly greater academic risk than similarly low-income children who are housed.

The immediate impact can be felt in attendance, engagement and graduation. A child who moves between homes, shelters, or temporary living arrangements may have to change schools, travel farther to school, or miss class while a family navigates the logistics of finding stable housing. In the 2023-24 school year, 47.7% of students experiencing homelessness nationwide were chronically absent, meaning they missed at least 10% of the days they were enrolled. School mobility (changing schools for reasons other than grade promotion) can add another layer of disruption. Research examining third-grade students found that homelessness was associated with classroom engagement difficulties, while school mobility was associated with both academic achievement and engagement challenges. Students experiencing both homelessness and school mobility had the most significant difficulties. For older students in NC (SY 22-23), students who have experienced homelessness are less likely to graduate high school (or an equivalent program) within 4 years of starting (67.1%), compared to both students who were economically disadvantaged (83.6%) and all students (86.5%).

Over time, these disruptions can make it harder for children to keep pace with their peers. Young children may enter school with developmental or self-regulation challenges that affect their readiness to learn, while older students may struggle to recover from missed instruction or changes in schools and teachers. Research following children experiencing homelessness found that difficulties with self-regulation and related learning skills predicted school performance both in the short term and over time. As is true with any ACE (adverse childhood experience), homelessness does not determine a child's potential. Children experiencing homelessness demonstrate resilience; supportive relationships, effective parenting, schools, and community resources can help protect children from the effects of adversity.

That is why educational support is an important part of helping families at FMF. We work to make sure children have opportunities to learn, grow, and stay connected to their education while their families work toward stable housing. Through Study Buddies, children receive academic enrichment and one-on-one support. Our enrichment activities incorporate STEAM concepts and give children opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math in engaging ways. We also help parents navigate school systems and advocate for their children's educational needs, provide age-appropriate developmental screenings for every child, and connect families with community resources and additional support when needed.

Sources & Further Reading

National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE). The Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness in the United States: Data Summary for School Years 2021–22 to 2023–24.
This report provides national data on students experiencing homelessness, including chronic absenteeism, enrollment and educational outcomes. Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness in the United States: Data Summary for School Years 2021–22 to 2023–24

National Center for Homeless Education. Supporting the Educational Success of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness.
NCHE provides additional research, resources and guidance on removing educational barriers for students experiencing homelessness.
Explore NCHE resources