Due to a strike by the bus drivers’ union, there are extensive disruptions to school bus service.
This should not impact Early Intervention or pre-K bus services, but there may be some disruption to those services as well.
If your child’s bus route is affected by the strike, please review the following information about alternative transportation options:
For the Most Recent Update please visit DOE Pupil Transportation.
Public Transportation Options
MetroCards for students: If your child currently uses school bus service to get to school, your child will receive a MetroCard at school.
MetroCards for parents to escort their children: If your child has an IEP that requires transportation from home to school, or if your child normally receives busing, you may request a MetroCard from your child’s school so that you can accompany your child to school.
MetroCards only work in New York City. For parents of students who are bused to schools outside of NYC, please refer to the Private Transportation Options below regarding reimbursement for travel outside of the City. Parents who escort their children outside the city, can be reimbursed for travel on public transportation, i.e., MetroNorth, NJ Transit, etc. Here are the reimbursement forms.
Private Transportation Options
Students who receive busing from home, or students in kindergarten through sixth grade who live in areas where public transportation between home and school is not readily available have the following options:
- Note: Please coordinate transportation with neighbors and classmates whenever possible.
- If you drive your child to school during the strike, either in your personal car or a rental car, you will be reimbursed at a rate of $0.55 per mile and tolls (with original receipts/E-ZPass report) for the trip when the student is in the car.Here are the reimbursement forms.
- If you take your child to school in a taxi or car service, you will be reimbursed for the trip when the student is in the car after you submit a reimbursement form along with receipts. Here are the reimbursement forms.
- Students should be accompanied by an adult when using a taxi or car service. Please communicate with your child’s principal if you would need to make alternative arrangements.
- Request a New York City wheelchair-accessible taxi for trips originating in Manhattan and ending anywhere in the five boroughs, Westchester and Nassau counties.
- Get a list of Taxi and Limousine Commission licensed providers by borough and by zip code.
- Accessible Transportation Options for School Bus Strike
Transportation for Students with IEPs
Please visit this page for information about transportation options for children who have an IEP.
Field Trips
For the duration of the yellow bus disruption, field trips requiring yellow bus service will be canceled. All other field trips may continue as planned.
After School Programs
After school programs will be open. However, there will be no yellow bus service to transport children to after school programs, due to the strike.
Student Attendance and Learning at Home
Our goal is to have minimal disruption to student learning. Students affected by the strike will be excused for up to two hours of delayed travel time. If a student is unable to make it to school due to the strike, educational materials for every grade and core subject are posted here so that students can continue learning at home.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about the strike, which will be updated as more information becomes available.
