SchoolBus logo in red and orange
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

New York City School Buses Hit the Road as Schools Reopen

All elementary school students in the U.S.’s largest city can now return to campus. The city is running its full fleet of 10,000 school buses.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
Read Nicole's Posts
September 29, 2020
New York City School Buses Hit the Road as Schools Reopen

The New York City Department of Education has reopened many schools for in-person instruction. The city is running its full fleet of 10,000 school buses.

File photo courtesy Katrina Falk

2 min to read


As the New York City Department of Education reopened some schools for in-person instruction last week and more begin onsite learning on Tuesday, school buses are hitting the road with some additional safety measures.

All elementary school students in the U.S.’s largest city are now able to return to campus, according to the Department of Education’s website. Middle school and high school students will resume in-person classes on Thursday.

Ad Loading...

Last week, the Department of Education began providing school bus service for preschools and District 75 schools. Catholic schools, private schools, and charter schools also started receiving bus service for in-person instruction, according to Staten Island Advance. The 1,400 routes for non-public schools are currently serving approximately 18,000 non-public school students, the news source reports.

Students being transported by school bus are required to wear masks and practice social distancing, and buses are limited to 25% capacity to enable social distancing, the agency’s website states. Students from the same household, however, may sit together, and nurses and paraprofessionals may sit with the students assigned to them. The bus’s seats will be clearly marked to show students where they can or cannot sit.

The Department of Education is also prioritizing home-to-school bus service due to the pandemic, and is not providing transportation for field trips or for after school programs (except in the case of students with approved specialized transportation plans), or on federal holidays.

Additional practices include keeping the bus windows open for extra ventilation and keeping the air system on the bus in the non-recirculating mode; cleaning and disinfecting all school buses following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended cleaning and disinfection protocols every night; and having students exit school buses one row at a time to maintain social distancing.

With the city’s public schools now open, the Department of Education has its full fleet of 10,000 school buses running, according to Staten Island Advance.

More Management

The Route thumbnail with school bus fleet logo
SponsoredFebruary 11, 2026

70 Years, 100 Episodes: The Stories Behind Decades of School Busing

It’s a celebration and a blast from the past in this special anniversary episode of The Route. Take a walk through major industry moments, milestones, and the people who shaped it with some faces you haven’t seen in a while! The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.

Read More →
Graphic labeled “Legislative Roundup” featuring a school bus illustration in front of the U.S. Capitol dome with the School Bus Fleet logo in the corner.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 10, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: Stop-Arm Cameras, Safety Retrofits & Driver Shortage Fixes

From Maine bus safety upgrades to stop-arm camera bills, electric bus funding, and an Alabama workforce solution, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.

Read More →
Amanda Huggett sits smiling in front of a row of yellow school buses beside a graphic reading “School Bus Fleet Monthly Cheat Sheet: Top News & Updates – January 2026,” promoting an industry news recap video.
Managementby Amanda HuggettFebruary 9, 2026

Safety Stories, State Legislation, OEM Moves & Love the Bus: January 2026 School Bus News Recap

Missed any of last month’s industry news? We got you. Reporting from Minneapolis, here’s your quick recap of updates from Waymo's controversy, technology, and safety legislation across the U.S.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
school bus driver with student
SponsoredFebruary 9, 2026

How Supplemental Transportation Helps Close Driver Gaps

Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.

Read More →
Children run toward a stopped yellow school bus on a residential street as a graphic overlay reads “School Bus Fleet Biz Briefs” with the date February 9, 2026, promoting an industry business news roundup.
Managementby Staff and News ReportsFebruary 7, 2026

School Bus Business Briefs: School Grants, New Contracts & Revenue Growth

In school bus tech and vendor updates, check in on news from EverDriven, Gatekeeper, Fleetio, Transfinder, RIDE, and new district partnerships.

Read More →
A red and orange personnel roundup graphic with text reading "Changing Lanes."
Managementby Elora HaynesFebruary 4, 2026

Changing Lanes: EverDriven, ADROIT, DeVivo Companies, School Bus Logistics, Zum, & Dorman

Check out some of the latest personnel moves from across the school bus industry, including new leadership appointments, various promotions, and major restructuring.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
parked school buses
SponsoredFebruary 3, 2026

From Damage Control to Decision Partner: Transportation's Role in School Closures & Redistricting

School closures are inevitable, but transportation chaos doesn’t have to be. Learn how modern routing technology helps districts model closure scenarios before board votes turn into crises.

Read More →
Graphic reading “It’s Launch Day! Behind SBF’s New Website” with a desktop and mobile preview of the redesigned School Bus Fleet website on an orange and cream background.
Managementby StaffFebruary 3, 2026

School Bus Fleet, Refreshed: New Website, New Look, Same Commitment

A cleaner layout, improved organization, and a better reading experience are here. Explore what’s new on schoolbusfleet.com!

Read More →
A red and orange graphic with text reading "Representation Matters in School Transportation Leadership."
ManagementFebruary 3, 2026

Why Representation Matters in Transportation Leadership

A firsthand look at how diverse leadership in school transportation builds trust and drives stronger systems.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
the contractor of the year award logo on an orange background with confetti
Managementby StaffFebruary 2, 2026

Nominations Open for 2026 Contractor of the Year

We're looking for an amazing school bus contractor executive who embodies dedication, excellence, and innovation. Nominate the greats you know for SBF's 2026 award! Nominations close March 31.

Read More →