The National Center for Education Statistics reported that school bus transportation was available at 87 percent of public school districts. On average, school districts reported that 40 percent of their students traveled by school bus on a typical day. Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland said it began the 2025-2026 school year with open routes because of a school bus driver shortage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, school bus drivers held approximately 387,300 jobs in 2024, with a median annual wage of $47,040. For children who rely on the school bus, the success of those efforts can determine more than whether a vehicle arrives.