School on Wheels volunteers provide free tutoring and mentoring to children from kindergarten through twelfth grade living in shelters, motels, vehicles, group foster homes, and the streets of Southern California.
1 in every 20 children
in California does not have a home
Homelessness has a devastating impact on children’s educational opportunities:
- Nine times more likely to repeat a grade
- Four times more likely to drop out of school entirely
Over the past 28 years, we have served more than 50,000 students!
Every one of these kids has a story, a past, and a future.
All have one thing in common—a volunteer tutor whose precious time and caring helped them learn and encouraged them to dream.
We train and match volunteers with our students and provide:
- One-on-one weekly tutoring
- School supplies
- Assistance in entering school
- Scholarships
- Parental support
- A learning center on Skid Row
You Can Make a Difference
We spend 92 cents of every dollar directly on student programming. Your donation helps us continue providing students with up-to-date, high-quality educational support.
We match tutors with students based on schedule, location, and expertise. Tutors receive training on trauma-informed approaches to education and ongoing academic planning support.
Start your own supply drive, either in-person or online. Getting started is easy and only takes a few minutes! Student wish lists and downloadable posters can be found here.
Volunteer tutors are our wheels—reaching students in six counties in Southern California and covering a span of 2,500 square miles.
Support Us
We survive through donations of people like you, who believe that every child has potential.
“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
Volunteer opportunities
- One-on-one tutoring
- Peer tutoring
- Online tutoring
- Group tutoring
