Regular school attendance is essential to a child’s academic success. However, for children whose families face unstable housing situations, making it to school every day can be extremely difficult. Oklahoma City Public Schools data shows that 60 percent of students experiencing homelessness or housing instability were chronically absent during the 2024-2025 school year.
According to an America’s Health Rankings report in 2022, three percent of public school students in Oklahoma lacked sufficient housing, placing the state among the highest percentages of housing instability among U.S. students. In addition, the Homeless Alliance reports that the number of people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City has grown by nearly 20 percent over the past five years.
To address these challenges and help these students succeed, Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) provides the Homeless Outreach in Public Education (HOPE) program, offering a variety of resources to meet students’ needs and give them the best chance of success.
Rex Wall, executive director of federal programs for OKCPS, oversees the HOPE program and shares how it supports one of Oklahoma City’s most vulnerable populations.
“Each year we serve about 1,400 students within our district who are experiencing homelessness or inconsistent housing,” says Wall. “These students may be facing a variety of barriers to being able to attend school, so we want to do everything we can to ensure they have a consistent educational experience.”
How the program works
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, signed into law in 1987, is a federal law that ensures children and youth experiencing homelessness receive important education rights and services. Under these guidelines, states require families to complete a questionnaire about their housing situation when enrolling a child in school. Using this data, the HOPE program reaches out to families and offers assistance.
“Once a family is identified, we complete a needs assessment with the family,” explains Wall. “We have two coordinators, one assigned to secondary schools and the other to elementary schools. They contact the families and learn what’s needed. It can be as simple as needing a new coat, shoes or school supplies, or more involved, where we help solve transportation needs or refer them to community resources that can assist with finding secure housing.”
Wall says many families live ‘doubled up,’ a term meaning they share housing with another family, while others may be completely unsheltered — living in a tent, car, or in one of the few metro-area family shelters.
Community partnerships and support
The HOPE program works closely with community partners to help families through the process of obtaining stable housing, including the Homeless Alliance, Sisu Youth Services, City Care, City Rescue Mission, the Salvation Army, and Pivot, an organization providing counseling, educational and vocational services for youth. In some instances, the circumstances that lead to family homelessness can subject children to traumatic and stressful experiences. While the HOPE program tries to meet the physical needs of a child, Pivot can help with mental and emotional needs.
The hardships of being unhoused is an experience Wall knows personally.
“When I was young there was a period in my life, maybe three or four years, when I experienced homelessness, even living out of a car for a while,” shares Wall, who grew up in Oklahoma. “I was moved around a lot and attended four school districts in one year, causing gaps in my education, especially in math. It’s an experience that has stayed with me my whole life and had a significant impact on my education.”
The impact of chronic absenteeism
According to the U.S. Department of Education, chronic absenteeism, defined as students missing 10 percent or more of school, has significant and long-term impacts on a student’s overall academic success and wellbeing. Research suggests that children who are chronically absent between preschool and second grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade. Studies have shown that those not reading at proficient levels by the end of third grade, typically struggle more throughout their school years, which can lead to higher dropout rates and fewer students being college and career ready.
Frequent moves and changing schools can create gaps in a child’s education that leave a lasting impact on their life and livelihood. This key point drives the program’s work to try and keep a student in their ‘school of origin,’ — the last school they attended — whenever possible.
When students consistently attend class, stay engaged in curriculum, and stay connected with teachers and peers, they are more likely to reach their academic goals. To support this, the program provides transportation assistance, additional tutoring, Saturday school, resources to use at home, and priority placement in summer programs.
“As a district, we value these students being in our schools and we want our schools to be a safe and welcoming place,” says Wall. “We do everything we can to ensure that.”
With homelessness in Oklahoma City rising and housing instability affecting thousands of students, the HOPE program’s work has never been more critical. By removing barriers to education and providing stability during uncertain times, the program helps ensure that a child’s housing situation doesn’t determine their academic future.
Looking for more information about organizations working to help those who are unhoused in our community? Check out our profile on the director of Homeless Alliance and an article about Key to Home’s collaborative approach to change, plus, find a podcast that addresses how to talk with kids about homelessness.
