Just as students with special needs are increasing, so too are students experiencing homelessness or unstable living, and alternative transportation providers are speaking out.

EverDriven last week reported a 167.4% increase in McKinney-Vento students driven since 2020.

Even more astonishing are the figures HopSkipDrive reported to SBF for the same period: a 4,859% increase in rides for students eligible under McKinney-Vento and a 2,624% increase in rides for students on an IEP. Neither figure contains a typo.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 defines homeless children and youth as students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The federal legislation requires school districts to offer transportation to students experiencing homelessness or who live in unstable housing.

The increase in McKinney-Vento students served aligns with findings from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which reports that homelessness continues to soar. According to its 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, the U.S. faces the highest level of homelessness ever recorded. 

The percentage of families with children experiencing homelessness rose by nearly 39% in just one year, marking the greatest increase in U.S. records.

“Homelessness among students is a national problem, and transportation remains one of the most crucial barriers to education for these students,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO at EverDriven. “Reliable transportation ensures that students experiencing homelessness can attend school to access shelter, meals, community, education, and stability, all of which are essential to their development.” 

The growing percentage of students eligible for McKinney-Vento often struggle with attendance, given the instability of their day-to-day lives. According to a March 2024 report, lack of transportation is one of the key causes of chronic absenteeism.

And, we all know how challenging it is on transportation staff to accommodate routing changes; a school bus can’t easily be rerouted 40 miles to pick up one student with just a few hours’ notice.

“Increases in homelessness are not only heartbreaking, but logistically challenging for schools,” said Joanna McFarland, CEO and co-founder of HopSkipDrive. “Compassionate and dedicated district leaders work endlessly to build support and solve for a host of issues.”

Alternative transportation providers offer a solution to the problem of absenteeism. 

“Supplemental transportation is a needed addition to a school district’s toolkit for students with disabilities given they may not thrive on a school bus or may need additional transportation during the day,” McFarland said. “HopSkipDrive safe, reliable rides from vetted, local caregivers is a step toward normalcy and consistent access to schools’ comfort, care, and educational opportunities.”

“Changes in a student’s housing should not affect their ability to get to school, and at EverDriven, we go the extra mile to make sure they can,” Bowling said. “We understand the critical role that consistent education plays in shaping a child’s future. Our services are designed to combat chronic absenteeism and provide stability in otherwise uncertain circumstances.”