Bus Driver Shortages, Budget Cuts Force Parents to Fill Void

The national school bus driver shortage shows no sign of abating, and parents are frustrated about having to fill the void, according to a new study. 

The study’s data is included in HopSkipDrive’s 2024 State of School Transportation Report, an annual nationwide survey of school transportation officials and parents of school-aged children to better understand school transportation challenges and how they impact educational outcomes.  

According to the study, 91% of school leaders report their transportation operations continue to be constrained by school bus driver shortages, and 60% have cut or reduced bus services. Among parents, more than three-quarters (79%) say they or their partner/spouse drive their children to and from school, and 40% of their schools have eliminated or reduced their children's school bus services. 

Key findings from the survey of more than 400 school leaders around the country include: 

Chronic Bus Driver Shortages Continue 

• 91% report their transportation operations are constrained by school bus driver shortages, staying steady from 2023 and increased from 88% in 2022. 

Schools Cut Bus Services 

• 60% of school leaders say they’ve been forced to cut or shorten bus routes this year, compared to 40% last year who said they made those route changes due to a bus driver shortage. 

School Staff Is Driving Buses 

• 38% say their staff takes away from core responsibilities or education hours to drive school buses or vans. 

Lack of Transportation Driving Absenteeism 

• 21% say transportation challenges are the biggest contributor to chronic absenteeism, more so than family decisions regarding student health. 

Electrification Is Not a Priority 

• Despite billions in government subsidies, almost three-quarters (73%) say electrifying their bus fleet is not a priority, and among those aware of state or local electric school bus mandates, only 18% feel confident they’ll meet them by set deadlines. 

Among the key findings from the survey of nearly 500 parents of school-aged children around the country include: 

Parents Are Having to Fill the Void Left by Buses 

• 79% say they or a partner/spouse are driving their kids to and from school. 
• 41% report their school district has eliminated, reduced school bus services. 

Parents Are Missing Out on Work Opportunities 

• 62% of parents who drive their children to and from school say these obligations have caused them to miss work. 
• 56 % of parents who drive their children to and from school say it has prevented them from seeking or taking on new work opportunities. 

Parents Are Frustrated and Anxious About School Transportation 

• 64% of parents find themselves stressing about their child’s transportation needs weekly, including 29 % who do daily 
• 64% of parents who drive their kids to and from school agree that navigating the drop-off or pick-up lane is one of the most stressful parts of their day 
• 63% say their children would miss less school if more convenient school transportation options were available 
• 30% of parents say figuring out transportation to and from school is the most stressful part of back-to-school season, second only to purchasing new clothes or school supplies (37 %) 

“HopSkipDrive’s 2024 State of School Transportation Report shows a continued need for inventive thinking, and a stalwart commitment to our students and parents, to work to overcome real, significant challenges like this continuing bus driver shortage,” said Joanna McFarland, CEO and co-founder of HopSkipDrive. “It shouldn’t be this hard for our hard-working educational leaders when new options are at hand. Multi-modal solutions like HopSkipDrive give additional innovative, straightforward tools delivered with the same safety, equity and care we see and appreciate from our schools. The current state of our school transportation system demands we all work to ensure students and their families can access the same opportunities of education and school support.” 

“These national findings validate and spotlight the unfortunate reality of education today,” saidTa’Londa Holland, senior director of policy and influence at Urban Strategies, a community development nonprofit. “This adds to what research tells us: a lack of access to reliable, safe school transportation prevents students, families and communities from equitable opportunities. Let’s get to work, because it’s clear we must deliver new solutions for our schools.”