School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

New York City School Buses Hit the Road as Schools Reopen

All elementary school students in the U.S.’s largest city can now return to campus. The city is running its full fleet of 10,000 school buses.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
September 29, 2020
New York City School Buses Hit the Road as Schools Reopen

The New York City Department of Education has reopened many schools for in-person instruction. The city is running its full fleet of 10,000 school buses.

File photo courtesy Katrina Falk

2 min to read


As the New York City Department of Education reopened some schools for in-person instruction last week and more begin onsite learning on Tuesday, school buses are hitting the road with some additional safety measures.

All elementary school students in the U.S.’s largest city are now able to return to campus, according to the Department of Education’s website. Middle school and high school students will resume in-person classes on Thursday.

Ad Loading...

Last week, the Department of Education began providing school bus service for preschools and District 75 schools. Catholic schools, private schools, and charter schools also started receiving bus service for in-person instruction, according to Staten Island Advance. The 1,400 routes for non-public schools are currently serving approximately 18,000 non-public school students, the news source reports.

Students being transported by school bus are required to wear masks and practice social distancing, and buses are limited to 25% capacity to enable social distancing, the agency’s website states. Students from the same household, however, may sit together, and nurses and paraprofessionals may sit with the students assigned to them. The bus’s seats will be clearly marked to show students where they can or cannot sit.

The Department of Education is also prioritizing home-to-school bus service due to the pandemic, and is not providing transportation for field trips or for after school programs (except in the case of students with approved specialized transportation plans), or on federal holidays.

Additional practices include keeping the bus windows open for extra ventilation and keeping the air system on the bus in the non-recirculating mode; cleaning and disinfecting all school buses following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended cleaning and disinfection protocols every night; and having students exit school buses one row at a time to maintain social distancing.

With the city’s public schools now open, the Department of Education has its full fleet of 10,000 school buses running, according to Staten Island Advance.

More Management

Black graphic with the headline “Zum, Generate Capital Expand Partnership,” the colorful Zum logo, and gold coin illustrations representing financing.
Management•by News/Media Release•October 15, 2026

Zum Secures Continued Financing Support for School Bus Expansion

Generate Private Credit has financed approximately $75 million in school bus deployments across three states, supporting more than 500 buses as Zum expands across the county.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet’s The Route video thumbnail featuring host Amanda Huggett and guest Sam Freshner, with the headline “Beyond Discipline: A Different Approach to Student Behavior on the School Bus.” Sponsored by IC Bus.
Sponsored•by Amanda Huggett•October 15, 2026

Beyond Discipline: A Different Approach to Student Behavior on the Bus

After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements. Here’s how it worked. The Route is brought to you by IC Bus.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet’s The Route podcast thumbnail featuring host Amanda Huggett and guest Sam Freshner, with the headline “A Different Approach to Student Behavior on the School Bus” over a yellow school bus background.
Management•October 14, 2026

A Dean of Transportation's Different Approach to Student Behavior on the School Bus

After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements on the bus. Here’s how it worked.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Collage of NAPT ACTS 2026 highlights, including a speaker at the podium, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees networking, and exhibitors demonstrating technology on the trade show floor.
Management•by Amanda Huggett•October 12, 2026

Inside NAPT ACTS 2026: Highlights from Louisville

From federal updates and student behavior strategies to new school bus technology and industry awards, see highlights from NAPT ACTS 2026 in Louisville.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet video thumbnail featuring 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Annette Brown smiling beside a yellow school bus, with the headline “Why School Bus Drivers Are Underrated Heroes” and the School Bus Driver Hero Award logo.
Management•by Staff•October 9, 2026

Meet the 2025 School Bus Driver Hero Winner: Annette Brown

We caught up with Wa-Nee Community Schools' Annette Brown on site at SBFX, where she was named the 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Award winner. Hear about her reaction, what she loves most about being a school bus driver, and more!

Read More →
School Bus Fleet graphic featuring three illustrated yellow school buses carrying students beneath the headline “The Comfort of Consistency,” with a red bottle of ketchup drawing a line across the upper left corner.
Management•October 9, 2026

Predictability Is Like Ketchup (According to 6-Year-Olds)

To students, a different school bus can feel like a full-blown crisis. One driver reflects on why familiar routines, showing up on time, and being reliably boring matter more than we think.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A professional driver stands in front of a bus beside text reading “Samsara Driver Perks.”
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 7, 2026

Samsara Launches Free Driver Rewards Program

The new Driver Perks program gives eligible professional drivers access to discounts and offers without adding a cost for participating fleets.

Read More →
Graphic showing hands counting $100 bills with text reading, “How to Finance Your Next School Bus: Municipal Leases, VPAs, Residuals.”
Management•October 7, 2026

How Tax-Exempt Municipal Leases Can Help Finance School Buses

Let’s explore school bus financing options, including municipal leases, vendor payable accounts, and balloon payments, and how they can help stretch fleet budgets.

Read More →
Group of School Bus Fleet 2026 Trailblazers above a graphic announcing that nominations are open for the 2027 SBF Trailblazers, with submissions due Dec. 14, 2026.
Management•by Staff•October 6, 2026

Nominate Rising School Transportation Pros Under 40!

We’re searching for the next generation of leaders making an impact across the K-12 student transportation industry to recognize as SBF’s 2027 Trailblazers. Nominations are open now!

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic for School Bus Fleet’s September 2026 “Changing Lanes” personnel roundup featuring headshots of seven school transportation industry professionals who recently changed roles.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 2, 2026

Changing Lanes: BusWhere, EverDriven, InterMotive, Summit School Services, Switzer-Carty & Thomas Built Buses

Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation suppliers, contractors, and manufacturers.

Read More →