Final Letter Report on the New York City Department of Education’s Compliance with Local Law 34 of 2019 Regarding Reports on School Bus Transportation Services and School Bus Delays

Introduction

This Final Letter Report concerns the New York City Comptroller’s audit of the New York City (City) Department of Education’s (DOE’s or the Department’s) compliance with Local Law 34 of 2019, which requires that DOE: (1) report twice a year on its school bus services and delays to the New York City Council; and (2) post a copy of each semiannual report on its website. The objective of this audit was to determine whether DOE has complied with those requirements of Local Law 34.

DOE provides primary and secondary education to over one million pre-kindergarten to grade 12 students in more than 1,800 schools. DOE also provides transportation to eligible City students in public, charter, and non-public schools through its Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT).  PT coordinates transportation services for City students attending public, charter, and nonpublic schools located in the City and in surrounding areas up to fifty miles outside of the City through contracts with school bus companies.  Its mission is to ensure safe and reliable transportation to and from school in partnership with its contracted bus companies transporting school age and preschool students.

On February 12, 2019, the New York City Council enacted several pieces of legislation, including Local Law 34, to increase transparency of DOE’s OPT operations, oversight of school bus activity, and the safety and efficiency of school bus services. The legislation followed a series of reports and complaints from parents and educators concerning school bus services, including among other things no-show buses, missing students, significant delays, and concerns about school bus drivers. Moreover, a heavy snowstorm in November 2018 exposed additional weaknesses in the City’s school bus system. The storm caused massive gridlock that delayed roughly 700 bus routes, leaving thousands of students stranded on freezing roads and parents unable to communicate with or know the location of their children or the school buses.

According to data the New York City Council published, students experienced 27,082 school bus delays in September of 2018. School buses were delayed an average of 28.1 minutes, which was an increase from the average delay of 24.8 minutes in September 2017. Students receiving bus service in Queens and Brooklyn experienced the most significant delays, with an average of 29.3 and 29.1 minutes, respectively, while students in Manhattan were delayed an average of 26.9 minutes, followed by the Bronx with an average of 20.7 minutes and, finally, Staten Island at 18.2 minutes. In September 2019, by comparison, students experienced 10,553 school bus delays. School buses were delayed an average of 28.0 minutes. Students receiving bus service in Manhattan and Queens experienced the most significant delays, with an average of 30.0 and 28.1 minutes, respectively, while students in Brooklyn were delayed an average of 27.5 minutes, followed by the Bronx with an average of 23.2 minutes and, finally, Staten Island at 19.4 minutes.

Beginning in March 2020, schools were closed in response to COVID-19, and school bus transportation services were suspended for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. School bus transportation services resumed on September 21, 2020 when schools opened for the 2020-2021 school year, with busing being provided to children in grades 3K and Pre-K, and all grades in District 75 schools, non-public schools, and charter schools.