With preparations underway for the upcoming 2025-26 school year, the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) is providing an early update on school bus transportation plans to help families anticipate any changes and explore available options.

The Department continues to work closely with Gov. Josh Green, M.D., and all county mayors to reduce the risk of route suspensions caused by the ongoing local and national shortage of qualified school bus drivers.

“We’re doing everything we can now to prevent the kind of last-minute disruptions we experienced last year,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “This includes working hand in hand with our school bus contractors to fill vacancies, restore suspended routes, and expand alternative options to keep students connected to school.”

What to expect for School Year 2025-26:

Route Prioritization: As in previous years, HIDOE will continue to prioritize school bus service for elementary students and students receiving special education services. Applications for school bus service for next school year will open Monday, July 14. Visit https://hawaiipublicschools.org/school-services/eligibility-applying/ để biết thêm thông tin.

Public Transit Expansion: In partnership with county transportation agencies, the Department is expanding its free county bus pass program, EXPRESS, to include middle and intermediate school students for the first time. High school students on all islands will continue to be eligible. Interested students must meet the transportation qualifications to be eligible: elementary students must reside at least 1 mile from their home school, and secondary students must reside 1.5 miles or more from their home school.

This expansion, effective Aug. 1, aims to give more families access to reliable transportation options in areas where HIDOE school bus service may be limited or impacted. The online EXPRESS application site will accept applications starting July 14. Details are available at https://bit.ly/HIDOE-EXPRESS.

Carpool Pilot Program: A new carpool pilot program will launch in two school complexes: Mililani in Central O‘ahu and Kekaulike in Upcountry Maui. The program will provide support and resources to help families connect with others in their area to share school drop-off and pickup responsibilities. More information on how to participate will be shared with families in these complexes in July.

Since the start of the current school year, bus contractors have successfully reinstated 125 of the 138 routes that were initially suspended due to driver shortages, restoring service for nearly 3,500 impacted students. Targeted hiring efforts – including sign-on bonuses, wage increases, and improved benefits – are ongoing as contractors work to restore the remaining 13 routes.

“Driver recruitment and retention remain our biggest challenges,” said Student Transportation Services Administrator Megan Omura. “The progress we’ve made this year reflects a strong, coordinated effort with our contractors and elected officials, and we’re continuing to build on that heading into the new school year.”

Thanks to Gov. Green, the Department has been able to leverage an emergency proclamation to help streamline the hiring process. The proclamation allows drivers with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a “P” endorsement – permitting them to transport passengers – to operate school buses temporarily, in lieu of the “S” endorsement specifically required for school bus drivers. The proclamation, which was extended several times, currently runs through May 20. The Department is closely monitoring House Bill 862, which would help to make some of the emergency provisions available long-term.

The Department and its partners will continue working through the summer to monitor staffing levels and support new driver recruitment and training to ensure a smooth start to the school year. Families are encouraged to stay connected with their schools and the HIDOE website for the latest updates.