School on Wheels

School on Wheels was founded in 1993 by Agnes Stevens, a retired schoolteacher who understood the importance of education to students devastated by homelessness - and the unique challenges they face. We were then, and we still remain, the only organization in Southern California dedicated exclusively to the educational needs of this fragile population.

School on Wheels works throughout Southern California to remove the barriers that stand between homeless children and their education. Our tutoring program stands at the center of our work: our volunteers constitute the very heart of our organization. They come from all backgrounds and professions to teach, mentor and assist the educational life of a child devastated by homelessness. Over the past 28 years, School on Wheels has served more than 50,000 students experiencing homelessness.

Our core programs include The ABC Literacy Program, which is designed to help students in kindergarten through third-grade catch up to their grade level in literacy and develop a love of reading. It can also be used for students in fourth through sixth grade who are significantly behind grade level. The program follows a 10-week curriculum and includes personalized lesson plans and the opportunity for students to receive books and prizes. Our Academic Program helps fill in the gaps for our students in kindergarten through 8th grade in foundational subject areas in mathematics and English language arts (ELA). We use Freckle, an online learning program in math and ELA that targets specific skill gaps and adapts to reach students at their own level, so students are never working on anything too easy or too difficult. Our Believe-Understand-Succeed (BUS) Program combines personalized academic and life skills instruction with post-high school opportunities for our students experiencing homelessness in grades 9-12. We have developed our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Program to give volunteer tutors the tools needed to help students combat stress by teaching them to pause, breathe, and gauge their feelings before responding to an emotional situation. And finally, our Digital Literacy program provides the skills students need to participate in digital spaces. These are essential skills required for students to succeed in school and beyond. Topics covered by the program include evaluating internet sources, composing documents, protecting personal data, and respectfully participating in online conversations.

Testimonials

It's an amazing feeling to be around these children and see the difference you're bringing about over time. - Clara Fu, Volunteer Tutor
"Making a connection with my tutor was the best thing that ever happened to me while being homeless, and since then I have maintained a constant relationship with them." - Angela Sanchez, School on Wheels alumni
"When I got my family into a shelter School on Wheels came right alongside us and helped my kids with their education. I didn't have the education to help them myself. We are extremely proud of Ashley. She is the first in our family to graduate from high school." - Xochitl, Ashley's Mom
"I struggled as a Junior in high school. I was failing classes and wasn't focused on my education. But for my senior year, I had a tutor - Brittany. I finally wasn't on my own anymore. I became less frustrated with school and I started to feel positive and just started to do it. I want to study culinary arts or environmental science and plan to attend Los Angeles Mission College." - Student Ossie
Irvin is very special because he is so eager to learn and he is such a courteous young man. Since he has had so many breaks in his education history, the online system (made necessary by the pandemic) is especially challenging. Nevertheless, Irvin is making great progress toward earning his high school diploma! Irvin wants to become a chef, and someday open his own Mexican restaurant. Working with him, I have seen and learned the power of resilience. - Judith Seki, Tutor