Results of Pathwise’s third annual Nationwide McKinney-Vento Study are in.

This study documents the realities faced by school districts supporting students experiencing homelessness. The 2025 survey of 404 district liaisons from 48 states and the District of Columbia from the 2024-25 school year found that funding pressures, identification challenges, and limited staff capacity continue to shape district responses.

For the third straight year, a majority of districts reported increases in the number of students identified as McKinney-Vento eligible. Caseloads are also becoming more concentrated: the share of liaisons supporting more than 400 students rose from 13% to 19% year-over-year.

“The findings from this year’s study make clear that student homelessness is not easing,” said Nate Brogan, CEO of Pathwise. “For three years in a row, the majority of districts have reported increases, and many liaisons are now managing larger caseloads than ever before. These professionals are doing everything they can under intense constraints, but without stable funding and stronger systems, the needs of these students will continue to outpace the capacity to serve them.”

Regional patterns show similar concentration. Among the 15 states with the highest response volume, just over half of the districts reported increases this year. Last year, nearly two-thirds of respondents across 19 states reported increases, and six states saw 70% or more growth. The consistency of state-level hot spots suggests that student homelessness is intensifying locally even when statewide totals fluctuate.

Districts also continue to rely heavily on disconnected and manual systems to track McKinney-Vento data, including spreadsheets (36%), paper records (19%), and other software tools (6%). This fragmented approach makes it harder to quickly identify eligible students, coordinate services, and ensure compliance. 

Additionally, as ARP Homeless II funding has ended, 14% of districts cited severe transportation challenges. Given that providing transportation to at-risk students can directly impact attendance as well as student outcomes, districts are turning to solutions that can help them optimize their existing transportation infrastructure to serve the needs of these students without impacting their budgets. 

“Districts are making difficult decisions in the absence of federal relief,” Brogan added. “Transportation, identification, and service capacity are becoming pressure points, and without support, the weight shifts to already overextended staff.”

Key Information in the 2025 Survey

The report offers an in-depth look at the current landscape of McKinney-Vento programs nationwide, including: 

• Respondent profile – Experience levels of liaisons, caseload sizes, etc. 

• Student identification trends – How many students are being identified and how this compares with previous years, as well as geographic variations across states. 

• Challenges facing liaisons – The most significant barriers to serving students, from funding limitations to identification and operational constraints. 

• Impact of funding changes – The consequences of expiring federal stimulus funds and ongoing uncertainty about future U.S. Department of Education support. 

• State-level insights – Where increases in identified students are most pronounced and how state trends vary. 

• Perspectives from the field – Direct quotes from respondents highlighting the realities of their day-to-day work.

Key Transportation Insights

While nearly half of respondents were most concerned about funding, transportation remains a notable concern in supporting homeless students’ academic success, reflecting logistical challenges in supporting McKinney-Vento students, the report noted.

All concerns noted include: 

• Reduced funding: 25% 

• Elimination of funding: 24% 

• Fund delays: 15% 

• Ability to provide transportation to these students: 15% 

• Adequate support for staff: 13%

One respondent wrote that: “Housing and transportation are two very large barriers...We do not have enough housing and enough affordable housing. We do not have enough transportation and the transportation services we do have do not run often enough...”

To access the full insights, download the report here.

Pathwise also hosted a webinar addressing survey trends and offering strategies to support homeless students. Register to watch the recording here.