Meet the Team Behind: School on Wheels

School on Wheels supports children experiencing homelessness with free tutoring, school supplies, and one-on-one mentorship— helping students build confidence, stay in school, and reach their full potential. Learn more here! 

Can you tell me about your mission? 

School on Wheels is helping to break the cycle of homelessness through education. We provide free tutoring and support to K–12 students experiencing homelessness across Southern California, including children and families living in shelters, motels, vehicles, on the streets, and unaccompanied youth in residential treatment centers. We provide one-on-one tutoring, school supplies, scholarships, parental support, and have an in-person learning center on Skid Row. 

What kind of programs do you offer? 

We have a literacy program for those in kindergarten through fourth grade, where students learn reading, writing, and close learning gaps. For the fifth through eighth graders, we focus on either reading or math skills depending on the student’s needs and use a computer-adaptive program that provides personalized learning content. High schoolers participate in our BUS program, which teaches life skills like how to get into college and how to manage money, all while working towards academic goals. All students, regardless of age, learn social and emotional skills, which are a critical foundation for them to thrive. 

What academic roadblocks do children experiencing homelessness face? 

Children experiencing homelessness are 9x more likely to repeat a grade, 3x more likely to be placed in special education programs, and 4x more likely to drop out of school entirely. Youth without a high school diploma are 4.5x more likely to experience homelessness later in life, which is the single greatest risk factor for young adults. Our results show that one-on-one tutoring and undivided personal attention directly lead to academic growth. After only ten weeks of tutoring, the majority of our students improve their assessment scores by a full grade level or more. 

Where does School on Wheels operate? 

We partner with over 400 sites across Southern California—including libraries, shelters, and after-school programs. Our Skid Row Learning Center is located in the neighborhood with the highest concentration of homelessness in the country. The center offers a safe and fun learning environment where students experiencing homelessness can access support after school. Students can access the center five days a week year-round. We have summer programs, academic lessons, a digital learning center, and more. Last year, over 2,300 students experiencing homelessness across the state benefited from our programs.