HopSkipDrive is heading to a new market! According to its Jan. 21 announcement, the transportation provider is planning to soon launch in Kansas City, providing another option for local districts to get access to a network of vetted CareDrivers to supplement yellow school buses and existing student transportation options.

In Kansas City, HopSkipDrive is partnering with schools including Basehor-Linwood Unified School District and Leavenworth Unified School District. It’s also exploring additional partnerships with other districts, non-profits, and government agencies to further expand student transportation options.

“At Basehor-Linwood Unified School District, we understand that keeping kids in school means finding new ways to get them here,” Interim Assistant Superintendent Chris Vignery said. “We are excited to partner with HopSkipDrive, especially to support our students needing more individualized transportation. We are continually looking for innovative solutions like HopSkipDrive, who, with expertise and experience, can deliver a supplemental solution to get kids to and from school safely.”

As school districts around the country are confronted with bus driver shortages, solutions from alternative transportation providers like HopSkipDrive can step in to relieve the burden. Already over 600 school districts and 10,000 schools are working with the company, especially for students who can be hardest to route on a school bus. Just last September, HopSkipDrive announced an even shorter turnaround time for rides. It can now accommodate requests from school partners with as little as six hours' notice.

HopSkipDrive engages local caregivers in the community from diverse backgrounds such as parents, grandparents, former educators, and healthcare professionals for local districts. The program works by having school districts identify students to receive rides from CareDrivers and inform parents and caregivers. Transportation officials then arrange rides, which once booked details will be provided to organizers, parents, and caregivers. All details, and real-time ride tracking, is available through the HopSkipDrive app.