Survey gauges school administrators on bus safety, bullying
In a national survey on K-12 school safety conducted by SchoolReach, only 15% of top school administrators ranked their districts as highly prepared to handle school bus safety incidents. Also, survey respondents ranked the school bus as one of the top four sites where students are reporting bullying.
In a national survey on K-12 school safety, only 15% of top school administrators ranked their districts as highly prepared to handle school bus safety incidents.
The “State of School Safety in America” survey was completed by more than 350 high-ranking school administrators across 48 states and was conducted by SchoolReach, a provider of school communications technology.
Besides the topic of school bus safety, survey respondents provided their views on a broad range of safety issues, including school shooting preparedness, lockdown operations, bullying prevention and emergency response. “According to our survey, school bus safety is an issue that many school leaders feel only moderately prepared to handle,” said Paul Langhorst, co-founder of SchoolReach. “Our data shows that this is an area school leaders should be focusing on.”
The survey also discovered that bus bullying is a problem that many schools and districts are dealing with. When provided with a list of eight different locations, survey respondents ranked the school bus as one of the top four sites where students are reporting bullying.
“93% of survey respondents had received student reports about bullying or cyberbullying,” Langhorst said. “The fact that school bus bullying was identified as a top concern should remind all school leaders that bullying can happen anywhere.”
School leaders can download a summary of the “State of School Safety in America” survey results at schoolreach.com/safetyreport.
More Safety

The Driver Shortage Playbook
Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.
Read More →
Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
