NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — School bus eligibility zones for elementary school students here will soon increase, in an effort to mitigate chronic absenteeism, New Britain Herald reports.
Previously, Consolidated School District of New Britain students who lived more than 1 mile from their school were eligible for school bus service. As of September, students who live more than half a mile from their school can ride the bus, according to the newspaper.
Chronic absenteeism is up to 17% among kindergartners, Joe Vaverchak, the district’s attendance supervisor, told New Britain Herald. Logistical challenges for parents, such as not having access to a car, having younger children at home to care for and inclement weather have been factors causing absenteeism.
As part of the change, the district will add bus routes, according to WFSB.
District to change school busing requirement to boost attendance
The Connecticut district will allow students who live more than half a mile from school — down from 1 mile — to ride the bus. Chronic absenteeism is up to 17% among kindergartners.
More Management
What Happens When Battle-Tested Leadership Meets Student Transportation?
See how Thomas Gray brings Marine Corps discipline and logistics expertise to Dayton Public Schools in this article celebrating National Military Appreciation Month.
Read More →
Diesel Prices Spike: Tips to Cut Fuel Costs with Data and New Geotab Tools
With diesel prices up 46%, new Geotab analysis points to tools that help fleets reduce idling, detect fuel anomalies, and recover hidden fuel costs across operations.
Read More →
What Data Shows About Student Transportation in 2026
Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.
Read More →From Our Partners
What Data Shows About Student Transportation in 2026
Sponsored by Zonar Systems
Transportation Drives Student Outcomes and Access
Sponsored by EverDriven
Honoring Heroes Behind the Wheel: Award Nominations Open
Sponsored by AngelTrax
Announcing the 2025 School Bus Driver Hero: Jackie Wilkerson Brown
Sponsored by AngelTrax
Transit Technologies Announces New Executive Appointments
The Bytecurve and busHive parent company has multiple new faces on its executive team as the company focuses on AI platform growth.
Read More →
IC Bus Introduces ‘My International’ to Connect Fleet Vehicles, Data, and Service
Available on desktop or mobile, the digital ecosystem brings fleet monitoring, service management, vehicle insights, and dealer communication into a single interface.
Read More →
More Districts Tap Transfinder for Routing, Tracking, and Communication Tools
See which users in Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are adopting Transfinder’s routing, tracking, and parent apps.
Read More →
AT&T, Sonim Launch XP5plus 5G LMR Device for School Bus Fleets
The new radio combines durability, push-to-talk, and FirstNet connectivity, offering a cost-effective communication solution for fleets.
Read More →
EverDriven Celebrates Milestones in Washington; Caregiver Trust Tops 80%
EverDriven marks 18 years and 17 million miles in the Evergreen state while new data shows 8 in 10 caregivers would recommend its student transportation solution.
Read More →
Zum Raises $100 Million, Cites ‘Transportation Anxiety Crisis’ in New Research
New funding and national research highlight student transportation challenges as Zum looks to scale its Connected Mobility Experience platform nationwide.
Read More →
Pro-Vision Video Installs Now Backed by MECP-Certified Techs
The certification validates expertise in complex vehicle technology installations, making it the first fleet video solutions provider to achieve the milestone.
Read More →