FAIRFAX, Va. — HopSkipDrive has expanded its rideshare service for kids to the northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., region, marking its first foray into the East Coast market.

HopSkipDrive provides app-based customized transportation services for children and their families. That includes getting kids to and from school, sports practice, and other after-school activities.

The company has been operating in parts of California and Colorado, and recently expanded its service to cover the San Diego region in Southern California. Now, families in the northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., region can schedule rides through the HopSkipDrive app.

“In areas like the D.C. metro region, where the District’s population increases 79% each day as workers commute in, it can be incredibly stressful if not impossible for parents to get their children to school and also get to work on time,” said Joanna McFarland, co-founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. “We are thrilled to offer Washington metro parents a safe and reliable alternative, so they don’t need to make these painful tradeoffs.”

Each driver with HopSkipDrive must have at least five years of caregiving experience and pass a 15-point certification process that includes fingerprinting, background checks against criminal and sex offender databases, and driving record checks through the Department of Motor Vehicles, according to the company.

When parents book a ride for their child, the app shows them a profile of the driver, including a photo. Parents can also communicate special instructions to drivers and receive progress notifications when their child is picked up or dropped off.

In addition to rides for individual families, HopSkipDrive has partnered with more than 150 schools and school districts nationwide to create specialized transportation solutions for students.

“Our mission is to remove mobility-related barriers so kids can thrive at school,” McFarland said, “while giving schools and districts logistical flexibility, visibility, and relief.”

HopSkipDrive is already serving families in northern Virginia, including Alexandria County, Arlington County, and Fairfax County. The company will launch its Washington, D.C., operations within the next few weeks and plans to launch in Maryland later this year.