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SEARCHThese stories provided information about the state of special-needs transportation for students in 2023.
New York City saw the settlement of a major class-action lawsuit related to special-needs transportation, while School Bus Fleet's 2023 survey found continued discomfort in the industry when it comes to school bus manufacturing and the availability of aides to serve aboard buses.
Those were just a couple of highlights from this year.
During a pilot project with GreenPower Motor Company, a Wyoming County (West Virginia) Schools student is helped aboard a Type A Nano BEAST electric school bus.
Photo: GreenPower Motor Company
The 2023 survey, which appeared in the February print edition of School Bus Fleet, offered a glimpse of how special-needs transportation providers were faring and what challenges they faced.
When transporting students with spina bifida, school bus drivers should avoid sudden stops, sharp turns, and bumps on the route.
Image: Canva/School Bus Fleet
Symptoms, treatment, and transportation strategies for students with spina bifida.
The settlement agreement calls for better accommodations and improved training to care for students with diabetes.
Image: Canva
A federal court gave final approval to a plan to make better accommodations for New York City's students with diabetes and to ensure they can properly experience school activities alongside their classmates.
Transporting students whose “home” setting can change almost daily can prove challenging for school districts, which determine bus routes based on the addresses of their students.
Image: Rhode Island Department of Education/Canva/School Bus Fleet
In a day and age where an education can prove transformative for youth in vulnerable environments, finding solutions to transport them is crucial.
Make sure to check all federal and state laws for service animals, develop a district policy, and communicate with all staff, drivers, and students about a service animal prior to it ever boarding the bus.
Photo: Canine Companions
School buses are going to the dogs! No, not like that; for students with disabilities, service animals are critical support and are permitted both in schools and on the big yellow bus. Here’s how school districts can plan and prepare for a new furry passenger.
What’s changing in special-needs transportation? Operators report a rising need, easing driver shortages, growing tech adoption, and emerging challenges. Details here! Survey sponsor: AMF Bruns of America.
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The state moves to review special education transportation policies following safety concerns raised by families and advocates.
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Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
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Learn more about what federal law really allows when sharing special-needs information with bus drivers and aides while protecting student privacy.
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Julio Ospina, a SPED driver and safety trainer at Wylie ISD in Texas, was named the national winner in AMF's annual driver award series.
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The most important factor in operating as safely as possible is leadership. Learn about an innovative new training course that teaches all levels of leadership the many practices to instill a safety culture in the drivers.
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Help shape the 2026 state of Special-Needs Transportation report! School district and contractor leaders — share your notes on ridership, equipment, and staffing by Dec. 31, 2025.
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Learn how modern telematics helps pupil transportation fleets operate more safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively while proving measurable value to their communities. See how real fleets are reducing idling, improving driver safety, and using video data to protect budgets and passengers alike.
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New data reveals frontline perspectives on supporting some of America’s most vulnerable students, detailing transportation challenges and possible solutions.
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For decades, Henkensiefken has been a cornerstone of special education transportation in Minnesota. As she prepares for retirement, her career reflects on the industry's evolution and her unwavering commitment to its advancement.
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