Synovia Solutions is launching a new version of its school bus tracking app Here Comes the Bus later this year.

The Here Comes the Bus Lite version is designed to serve smaller school districts, and will be made more affordable without the additional cost of routing software, Bryan Mitchell, a spokesman for Synovia Solutions, told School Bus Fleet.

"We are developing the tools for rural districts who don’t have routing software," Mitchell said. “They can get Here Comes the Bus Lite, and the app will create routing data for them."

Mitchell added that Here Comes the Bus Lite includes similar features as the current version of Here Comes the Bus, such as child safety check and student ridership tracking.

The new version of the app also provides real-time tracking information as well as email and push notifications to connect parents and students with their bus, according to the company.

“We’re excited to be able to innovate and deliver a school bus tracking app ideal for smaller school districts in rural or underserved areas,” said Jon King, CEO of Synovia Solutions. “This new version of our signature app will be a terrific opportunity for districts to invest in smarter fleet tracking technology that provide an improved school bus rider experience for their communities.”