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Education Barriers for Indiana’s Homeless Students

Experts Call for Community Action to Address Disparities in Academic Achievement

Homeless students in Indiana are falling behind at alarming rates. A new report released February 20, 2025 by Brightlane Learning reveals that just 57% of homeless third graders are proficient in early literacy—a sharp drop from 72% in 2019 and far below the 82% rate for housed students. Additionally, only 15% of homeless students are proficient in ILEARN English/Language Arts, performing 2.7 times lower than their housed peers.

At today’s Sparking Conversations – Educational Attainment and Homelessness Data & Impact Update event, education leaders, policymakers, and community advocates gathered at the Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM) Conference Center to discuss opportunities to close these learning gaps for Indiana’s nearly 19,000 homeless students.

Developed in partnership with Chamberlin/Dunn, LLC, the new report, Homeless Students Education Status: Educational Performance, Outcomes, and Recommendations for Indiana Students, provides critical insights into the academic struggles of homeless students and outlines actionable solutions to improve outcomes.

“For over two decades, Brightlane Learning has walked alongside students experiencing homelessness and housing instability. We have seen firsthand the impact of stress, trauma, and mobility on learning,” shared Brightlane Learning Founder and CEO Sally Bindley in a statement issued alongside the report. “The recommendations in this report will drive our work until we see the progress that we know is possible. But we cannot do that work alone—assisting our students is a community responsibility. Our students face great obstacles but also possess great ability. With a community response, they will succeed!”

Following the presentation of the report, panelists from Brightlane Learning and local school partners discussed the urgent need for increased educational support and community engagement to close achievement gaps.

Brightlane Learning encourages schools, policymakers, and community organizations to take action by:

  • Expanding targeted academic support for unhoused students.
  • Addressing equity gaps impacting student success, including attendance and discipline disparities.
  • Strengthening community partnerships to provide wraparound services, including transportation and mental health resources.
  • Enhancing data collection and evaluation to track progress and identify needs.

Explore coverage of the report and Brightlane Learning: