Help Students Get to School: Support the Illinois School Transportation Pilot Program
- al: STEER Student Transportation & Education Equity Roundtable
- destinatario: State Representative Robyn Gabel & State Representative Marcus C. Evans Jr.
Illinois is in the midst of a student attendance crisis. Nearly one in three Illinois students was chronically absent in 2021-22, and that number is even higher for students with disabilities (40%) and low-income students (43%). These absences are often driven by unreliable or unavailable transportation options, particularly among foster youth, homeless students, and students with disabilities who have specialized transportation needs.
At the same time, school districts across the state continue to face a crippling bus driver shortage. More than 90% of transportation directors in U.S. school districts report driver shortages, and in Illinois, districts have been forced to reduce routes and even leave some students without transportation. Chicago Public Schools began the current school year with enough drivers to serve only about half of eligible students, leaving thousands of students without a reliable ride to school.
This is not just a transportation issue – it is an education equity crisis. When students can't get to school, they can't learn.
The proposed Illinois School Transportation Network Company (TNC) Pilot Program, HB 989 HA#1, is an urgently needed response to the converging crises in our state's education system: a surging chronic absenteeism rate, worsening school bus driver shortages, and the resulting inequitable impact on our most vulnerable students.
Every day, students across Illinois are missing class simply because they don't have a way to get there. This is a solvable problem.
Sign to show your support for HB 989 HA#1 so that school districts can begin to meet the needs of their most vulnerable students with flexibility, creativity, and care.
At the same time, school districts across the state continue to face a crippling bus driver shortage. More than 90% of transportation directors in U.S. school districts report driver shortages, and in Illinois, districts have been forced to reduce routes and even leave some students without transportation. Chicago Public Schools began the current school year with enough drivers to serve only about half of eligible students, leaving thousands of students without a reliable ride to school.
This is not just a transportation issue – it is an education equity crisis. When students can't get to school, they can't learn.
The proposed Illinois School Transportation Network Company (TNC) Pilot Program, HB 989 HA#1, is an urgently needed response to the converging crises in our state's education system: a surging chronic absenteeism rate, worsening school bus driver shortages, and the resulting inequitable impact on our most vulnerable students.
Every day, students across Illinois are missing class simply because they don't have a way to get there. This is a solvable problem.
Sign to show your support for HB 989 HA#1 so that school districts can begin to meet the needs of their most vulnerable students with flexibility, creativity, and care.
Illinois School Transportation Pilot Program
Dear State Representative Robyn Gabel & State Representative Marcus C. Evans Jr.,
We write as a broad coalition of parents, educators, and concerned Illinois residents to express our strong support for the proposed Illinois School Transportation Network Company (TNC) Pilot Program, HB 989 HA#1. This innovative pilot is an urgently needed response to the converging crises in our state's education system: a surging chronic absenteeism rate, worsening school bus driver shortages, and the resulting inequitable impact on our most vulnerable students. We applaud your leadership in championing this proposal, and we urge swift enactment of the pilot program. The stakes for Illinois children – especially those who rely on school-provided transportation – could not be higher.
Why It Matters:
Illinois is in the midst of a student attendance crisis. Nearly one in three Illinois students was chronically absent in 2021-22, and that number is even higher for students with disabilities (40%) and low-income students (43%). These absences are often driven by unreliable or unavailable transportation options, particularly among foster youth, homeless students, and students with disabilities who have specialized transportation needs.
At the same time, school districts across the state continue to face a crippling bus driver shortage. More than 90% of transportation directors in U.S. school districts report driver shortages, and in Illinois, districts have been forced to reduce routes and even leave some students without transportation. Chicago Public Schools began the current school year with enough drivers to serve only about half of eligible students, leaving thousands of students without a reliable ride to school.
This is not just a transportation issue – it is an education equity crisis. When students can't get to school, they can't learn. This pilot program will provide school districts with a critical tool to supplement existing school bus operations with vetted, safe, small-vehicle alternatives. This will help:
A Proven Model:
This approach is already working in other states. California, for example, has allowed school districts to partner with alternative transportation providers for years. In Riverside County, flexible transportation options helped raise attendance rates for youth in foster care from 29% to nearly 80%. By allowing school districts to deliver specialized transportation services more efficiently and at lower cost, these models expand access without compromising safety.
A Smart, Safe, Targeted Solution:
This pilot program is not about replacing school buses – it is about helping school districts better serve the students who cannot be reliably or efficiently transported using traditional yellow buses. The pilot creates a pathway for a small, highly vetted segment of transportation providers to deliver rides for students with specialized needs, using cars and vans. The proposal includes:
We support this pilot as a common-sense solution to address real, urgent gaps in our education and transportation systems. Every day, students across Illinois are missing class simply because they don't have a way to get there. This is a solvable problem.
We urge you to move HB 989 HA#1 forward so that school districts can begin to meet the needs of their most vulnerable students with flexibility, creativity, and care.
Sincerely,
[Coalition Signatories]
firma la peticiónfirma la peticiónDear State Representative Robyn Gabel & State Representative Marcus C. Evans Jr.,
We write as a broad coalition of parents, educators, and concerned Illinois residents to express our strong support for the proposed Illinois School Transportation Network Company (TNC) Pilot Program, HB 989 HA#1. This innovative pilot is an urgently needed response to the converging crises in our state's education system: a surging chronic absenteeism rate, worsening school bus driver shortages, and the resulting inequitable impact on our most vulnerable students. We applaud your leadership in championing this proposal, and we urge swift enactment of the pilot program. The stakes for Illinois children – especially those who rely on school-provided transportation – could not be higher.
Why It Matters:
Illinois is in the midst of a student attendance crisis. Nearly one in three Illinois students was chronically absent in 2021-22, and that number is even higher for students with disabilities (40%) and low-income students (43%). These absences are often driven by unreliable or unavailable transportation options, particularly among foster youth, homeless students, and students with disabilities who have specialized transportation needs.
At the same time, school districts across the state continue to face a crippling bus driver shortage. More than 90% of transportation directors in U.S. school districts report driver shortages, and in Illinois, districts have been forced to reduce routes and even leave some students without transportation. Chicago Public Schools began the current school year with enough drivers to serve only about half of eligible students, leaving thousands of students without a reliable ride to school.
This is not just a transportation issue – it is an education equity crisis. When students can't get to school, they can't learn. This pilot program will provide school districts with a critical tool to supplement existing school bus operations with vetted, safe, small-vehicle alternatives. This will help:
- Improve attendance for students facing transportation barriers;
- Increase operational efficiency by freeing up buses and drivers for core routes;
- Ensure compliance with transportation mandates for students with disabilities, foster youth, and homeless students;
- Alleviate pressure on the yellow bus system, especially in hard-to-serve areas.
A Proven Model:
This approach is already working in other states. California, for example, has allowed school districts to partner with alternative transportation providers for years. In Riverside County, flexible transportation options helped raise attendance rates for youth in foster care from 29% to nearly 80%. By allowing school districts to deliver specialized transportation services more efficiently and at lower cost, these models expand access without compromising safety.
A Smart, Safe, Targeted Solution:
This pilot program is not about replacing school buses – it is about helping school districts better serve the students who cannot be reliably or efficiently transported using traditional yellow buses. The pilot creates a pathway for a small, highly vetted segment of transportation providers to deliver rides for students with specialized needs, using cars and vans. The proposal includes:
- Strict background checks and training for drivers;
- Live GPS tracking and real-time monitoring of rides;
- District-level oversight and reporting to ensure transparency and safety;
- Annual reporting to track student outcomes and ensure accountability.
We support this pilot as a common-sense solution to address real, urgent gaps in our education and transportation systems. Every day, students across Illinois are missing class simply because they don't have a way to get there. This is a solvable problem.
We urge you to move HB 989 HA#1 forward so that school districts can begin to meet the needs of their most vulnerable students with flexibility, creativity, and care.
Sincerely,
[Coalition Signatories]
Ver más peticiones:
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