Navigating the School Commute: Parent Perspectives

As the 2024-2025 school year gets underway, the routines of early morning and bustling school days return, bringing with them the daily challenge of getting kids to and from school. School districts across the country continue to face bus driver shortages — an issue that is causing districts to revise bus routes, adjust bell times, and in some cases, eliminate bus services altogether. The consequences of this shift are far-reaching, particularly for parents and families. 

To better understand the impact of school transportation challenges on families, HopSkipDrive surveyed parents across the nation for our annual State of School Transportation Report. Our goal was to shed light on the top-of-mind transportation concerns for parents, and to gain insight into how reduced school transportation services are affecting their daily routines and lives.

This article dives into the survey data we gathered to examine how transportation hurdles can impact parents’ ability to balance work, family, and other commitments.

The rising burden on parents

The 2024 State of School Transportation Report reveals a startling trend: parents are increasingly taking on the task of transporting their kids to school. A staggering 79%* of families are managing school transportation independently, with most parents reporting they drive their children to and from school themselves or rely on their partner/spouse or another family to do so. Taking on this responsibility is placing added stress on parents in a number of ways.

*The 79% figure was calculated by adding the number of respondents who selected "parent/spouse or another family member drives them" with the number of respondents who selected "I drive them." That total was divided by the total number of respondents to this question.

Of the parents we surveyed, 41% indicate that school bus services have been eliminated or reduced in their school district, placing additional pressure on them to find reliable and safe transportation for their children.

More than half of parents we surveyed report worrying about their child’s transportation at least once a week, with 29% experiencing daily anxiety. The chaos of the back-to-school season, already a hectic time for parents, is being compounded by the added pressure of coordinating school transportation — a task 30% of parents identified as their most stressful back-to-school experience.

“Navigating school transportation involves balancing safety, logistics, and schedules, and influences daily routines and family dynamics significantly.”

—Parent respondent to the 2024 State of School Transportation survey

The demands on parents’ time due to transportation responsibilities are substantial, and the daily school run is a significant contributor. Nearly a third (29%) of parents who drive their kids to and from school say they spend more than 30 minutes on average each day doing so. Additionally, nearly 64% of parents surveyed say navigating and waiting in the school pickup or drop-off lane is one of the most stressful parts of their day — a sentiment that any parent battling the chaos of the morning or afternoon rush can likely relate to.

The impact on work and professional life

The data we gathered with this year’s survey has made another thing clear: The constant need to shuttle kids to and from school is significantly impacting parents’ work lives. A striking 62% of surveyed parents admit to missing work because of the need to transport their kids to school, and more than half feel their careers have been negatively affected by having to drive their kids. These difficulties can result in missed career opportunities, reduced productivity, and even job loss.

“In my new district, there are no buses so every parent has to drop off and pick up every child, and my sons are in two different schools on the same street. It’s a mess, and I can’t work because of it.”

—Parent respondent to the 2024 State of School Transportation survey

Parents confirm link between transportation and absenteeism

Responses to this year’s survey also highlight a strong correlation between access to reliable transportation and student attendance. A significant majority of parents we surveyed — 63% — believe their children would miss fewer school days if more convenient transportation options were available. Ten percent of parents report that difficulty accessing transportation has caused them to keep their children home from school during the last school year. These findings underscore the importance of reliable school transportation as a key factor in student success. 

A call for solutions

The data paints a clear picture: school transportation issues are placing a considerable burden on families. It’s imperative that we work together to find solutions that ensure all students have safe and reliable transportation to and from school. 

According to survey responses, parents want — and are open to — different transportation solutions. Almost 78% of parents we surveyed say they wish their district offered more transportation options, and 72% said they would consider paying for school transportation themselves.

The traditional school bus system, while essential, doesn’t always align with the diverse needs of modern families. Parents are juggling demanding work schedules, extracurricular activities, and various family commitments. They need flexible and reliable options that ensure their children get to and from school safely, without adding unnecessary stress to their already busy lives. 

To better align transportation options with the needs of students, parents, and families, various solutions can be considered. Potential approaches include boosting financial support for school transportation systems; implementing innovative routing strategies to optimize efficiency; and embracing a multimodal transportation approach that combines walking, biking, school buses, public transportation, and supplemental transportation services like HopSkipDrive.

To learn more about how school transportation is impacting families from the perspective of parents, download the full 2024 State of School Transportation Report here.