The U.S. education system is founded on the idea that students are in class every weekday; simply put, to benefit from school, a student must be in attendance. Nevertheless, many students miss school on a regular basis, thereby missing out on valuable instruction. Statistics on absenteeism among homeless students are particularly concerning, with researchers estimating that homeless students are chronically absent at a rate that is at least double that of the overall student population. Missing school is not without consequence, as research correlates chronic absenteeism with lower standardized test scores and grade point averages and higher rates of grade retention and dropping out. Research and practice also demonstrate that efforts that lead to increased student attendance yield dividends in the form of greater student success in school. This brief explores the issue of chronic absenteeism among homeless students, and suggests strategies to prevent and address this hidden epidemic.