As school districts face growing pressure to safely transport students with disabilities and housing instability, HopSkipDrive is rolling out new tools focused on ride visibility and driver consistency.

HopSkipDrive announced a new suite of back-to-school transportation features for the 2026-27 school year, including free nationwide ride recording and a new Consistent CareDriver Program to improve safety and continuity for students with specialized transportation needs.

The Los Angeles-based supplemental student transportation provider said the updates are designed to support districts serving students covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Among the new offerings is “Ride Recording: In-App,” which provides audio and video ride recording at no additional cost across eligible rides. According to HopSkipDrive, the feature is built directly into the CareDriver app and does not require districts to install dashcams or retrofit vehicles. Recordings are encrypted, uploaded to secure servers after rides conclude, and automatically removed from drivers’ devices. Districts can access footage from the previous 30 days through HopSkipDrive’s RideIQ platform.

The company is also introducing “Track My Ride,” a live-tracking feature that sends riders a text message with a real-time ride-tracking link at the start of trips, without requiring an app download.

New Program Prioritizes Familiar Drivers for Students Requiring Additional Support

To address consistency concerns for students with disabilities and higher support needs, HopSkipDrive unveiled its Consistent CareDriver Program, which allows districts to assign a dedicated lead driver to eligible students. The platform also prioritizes backup drivers already familiar with the rider if the lead driver is unavailable.

“Consistency isn’t a goal for us; it’s our standard,” said Corey McMahon, chief product and technology officer at HopSkipDrive, in a statement. “We’ve moved beyond simply providing the first available CareDriver; we’ve built a system where even the backup plan is rooted in familiarity.”

Additional features in the 2026-27 product suite include Structured Rider Notes, which standardize rider information for drivers, and a Rider Assistant Program that allows districts to request additional adult support for students who need extra assistance with as little as six hours’ notice.

HopSkipDrive also announced expanded 24/7 support channels for districts, caregivers, and CareDrivers.

“Districts serving students with IEPs and students with housing instability need a partner they can count on, without sacrificing consistency, turnaround time, and safety,” said Joanna McFarland, CEO and co-founder of HopSkipDrive. “Our 2026-27 products ensure that every detail, from driver familiarity to safety protocols, is ready for the first day of school so districts can focus on education rather than logistics.”