The Struggle is Real: School Transportation Challenges Facing Parents
The daily struggle of getting kids to school is a reality many parents face. For Elizabeth Rivera, a mother of three, this struggle became all too real when she was fired from her job at an Amazon warehouse due to repeatedly leaving early to take her kids to school. Rivera’s story is not unique, as many parents are forced to choose between their job and their kids’ education.
The Impact on Parents
A recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and HopSkipDrive found that about one-third of parents say taking their kids to school has caused them to miss work. Roughly 3 in 10 say they’ve been prevented from seeking or taking work opportunities, and 11% say school transportation has even caused them to lose a job. Mothers are especially likely to say school transportation needs have interfered with their jobs and opportunities.
The Burden on Lower-Income Families
The impact of school transportation challenges falls disproportionately on lower-income families. Around 4 in 10 parents with a household income below $100,000 a year said they’ve missed work due to pick-up needs, compared with around 3 in 10 parents with a household income of $100,000 or more. Meredyth Saieed, a mother of two, lost her job as a bartender and server due to repeatedly missing the dinner rush for pickups. Saieed’s story highlights the struggles that many lower-income families face in balancing work and family responsibilities.
Not All Kids Have Access to a School Bus
Although about half of parents living in rural areas and small towns say their kids still take a bus to school, this number falls to about one-third of parents in urban areas. A separate survey of school administrators found that nearly half said school bus driver shortages were a “major problem” in their district. Some school systems don’t offer bus service, and in other cases, the available options don’t work for families.
The Transportation Burden Falls Heavier on Moms
Mothers are most often the ones driving their children to and from school, with 68% saying they typically take on this task, compared with 57% of fathers. Most mothers, 55%, say they have missed work, lost jobs, or were kept from personal or professional opportunities because of school transportation needs, compared with 45% of dads. Syrina Franklin, a mother of two, lost her job as a mail sorter at the post office due to being late more than 10 times. Franklin’s story highlights the disproportionate burden that mothers face in balancing work and family responsibilities.
Parents Want More Options
Many parents would like to see schools offer more options for getting their kids to school. Roughly 4 in 10 parents said getting their kids to school would be “much easier” or “somewhat easier” if there were more school bus routes, school-arranged transportation services, or improved pedestrian and bike infrastructure near school. Around a third cited a desire for earlier or later start times, or centralized pick-up and drop-off locations for school buses.
Conclusion
The challenges of school transportation are a reality that many parents face. The impact on parents, particularly mothers, can be significant, with many forced to choose between their job and their kids’ education. To address these challenges, schools and districts need to reclaim the responsibility of making sure students have a ride to school. By offering more options and improving existing transportation services, schools can help alleviate the burden on parents and ensure that all kids have access to education. As Joanna McFarland, the CEO and co-founder of HopSkipDrive, said, "I think we really need to come up with innovative ideas systematically and institutionally." By working together, we can create a more supportive and equitable system for all families.
