Hal Woods’ Post

I had the opportunity last week to speak with Natalie Y. Moore on WBEZ-FM 91.5's Reset show to discuss persistent problems with busing that have plagued Chicago Public Schools since schools reopened in August 2021. This is the third year in a row in which the return to class has been marred by transportation woes that have left thousands of students without transportation or with long commutes. This challenge is not unique to Chicago; the shortage of school bus drivers is a national issue, affecting urban, suburban, and rural school districts in all 50 states. School bus driver vacancies have a direct impact on student learning. In Chicago, lower-income and higher-need students are more likely than their peers to rely on school buses to get to school. When these students aren't in class on-time, they can't learn -- exacerbating the effects of the pandemic on student achievement. Chicago Public Schools is right to prioritize transportation and reduce commute times for unhoused students and students with disabilities. But with half of its bus driver positions unfilled, more than 8,000 students entitled to yellow bus transportation aren't getting it, instead receiving Chicago Transit Authority Ventra cards. This problem isn't going away anytime soon. We need to address vacancies by making the bus driver position more appealing through increased pay and improved benefits. We need creative solutions from the district that give families more options until the driver shortage can be more meaningfully addressed. And we need to ensure we are listening to those families to understand how the current approach can be modified and improved throughout the remainder of this school year and into next fall. https://lnkd.in/gHiPtWTy