This message is being shared on behalf of the NYC Department of Education to allfamilies.Dear Families:
We are writing to inform you of a possible disruption in yellow bus service this fall. This may impact your child’s transportation to school if your child uses yellow bus service to get to school. In the event of a strike, our top priority remains ensuring that every student, especially our most vulnerable, can continue attending their schools without interruption.
This possible strike is due to a labor dispute between bus companies that provide yellow bus service to our schools and a union that represents bus drivers and attendants, and could impact as many as half of our bus routes. NYC Public Schools and the Mayor's Office are monitoring the situation closely and working with our partners across the city to support a resolution, with the goal of avoiding the substantial impact a strike would have on our students and families. However, since such a strike is a possibility, we want you to be aware and informed. Please review the information below and continue to visit our website — schools.nyc.gov/transportation — to ensure that you are aware of the latest developments and resources available.
- NYC Public Schools Online Resources: Bus service interruption resources for families will be available on our website at schools.nyc.gov/transportation. Here you will find information on emergency MetroCards, transportation alternatives for students and families, attendance procedures for your child, and other assistance available until yellow bus service fully resumes. Please visit this page frequently as we will be updating it with the latest information.
- Updates on Social Media: We will also be sharing updates through our social media accounts (@NYCSchools on Facebook,(Open external link) Twitter,(Open external link) and Instagram(Open external link)).
- Additional information: You can also call our transportation call center at 718-392-8855, email us at [email protected], or call 311 at any time for information and the latest updates on yellow bus service.
- Notifications in the Event of a Strike: If a strike does occur and your child will be impacted, you will receive an automated call, email, and text message from us, as well as a second set of notifications on the first morning of interrupted bus service. Notifications will go to the contact information provided to us by your school, so it is important to ensure your contact information is up-to-date with your school and on your NYC Schools Account (learn more at sschools.nyc.gov/NYCSA). Once bus service resumes, you will receive automated notifications again to inform you of this update.
- Alternative Transportation in the Event of a Strike: NYC Public Schools is actively working to arrange alternative transportation for impacted families. All families impacted by the strike will have the option of an emergency MetroCard for both the student and a caregiver. In addition, NYC Public Schools will provide pre-paid rideshare and offer reimbursement to Students with Disabilities who have transportation recommended on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Accommodation Plan (504); Students in Temporary Housing or Foster Care who receive yellow bus service; and Students with an approved transportation exception, as defined on our as defined on our exceptions to transportation eligibility web page(Open external link). We will provide additional information in the coming days. In the event of a strike, your school’s transportation coordinator will work with you to evaluate the needs of your child so that your family can make the best possible arrangements for transportation to and from school during this service interruption.
We know how many of our students and families depend on yellow bus service and that even the possibility of an interruption in service will create concern and worry, which is why we wish to be as transparent as possible with our families. We will continue to provide you as much notice and information as possible. All parties are working diligently towards a resolution, and it is our hope that these plans will not be necessary.
We are committed to supporting you and all of our families in all ways possible.
Sincerely,Emma VadehraChief Operating OfficerNYC Public Schools