Summer 2026
BUSING NEWS and SURVEY
What’s up with summer services / Que pasa con los servicios del verano
Please fill out this Summer Busing Survey from the Road to Better Busing Coalition for independent data https://forms.gle/vb3PbJq4U1JUfsvZ8 - Translations are in progress.
Information on student transportation during July & August starts around minute 29 of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsRt3beR6D4 Info sobre el transporte escolar durante julio y agosto empieza al minuto 39 del video. PARA subtitulos en ESPANOL clic "CC", clic la flor al lado de CC, clic "Auto Translate", selecciona "Spanish"
Reminder of summer session times (not counting Summer Rising placement) and end dates:
-Nest & Horizon camp is 8am to 12 noon, Monday to Thursday only, last day August 6.
-District 75 and AIMS services are both 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 pm, Monday through Friday, last day August 13. -Extended School Year for other IEP placements is 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., last day August 12.
If your child’s pickup is later than dismissal time stated here, ask the school what is supposed to happen in between.
If, after the first few days of the program, the bus is arriving near, at, or after 8:00 a.m., then you, the school, and bus staff need to report it as a problem route (in addition to doing the survey above).
Review steps for addressing route concerns https://www.pistnyc.org/resources/bus-problems
Accurate information about phone numbers and names is critical to workers on special education routes. Because the blank Bus Emergency Contact Card on the NYCPS website lacks translations of safety questions and has tiny spaces, a PIST member created a fillable version, attached.
Student Transportation News / Noticias sobre el transporte escolar
PIST Action flyer is below, mostly in English. Please take to events for Disability Pride Month.
Employee Protection Provision update: The Albany legislative cycle ended without enacting a school bus EPP law that prioritizes retention of the most experienced Drivers & Attendants, for safety & stability. We look forward to a new, more passable version in January. Meanwhile please continue to circulate this statewide petition, which has over six thousand signatures: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/help-improve-bus-service-for-nyc-students/ and bring up the issue with candidates for Governor.
Regarding the school bus driver shortage, loss of Haitian TPS is not helping!
A SCOTUS ruling means Temporary Protected Status for asylum seekers from Haiti and Syria will expire this July 27th unless Congress intervenes (Senate Bill 4814) or the individuals get permanent status such as through their employers. This affects fifty thousand citizen children also!
Haitian leaders outline immediate steps for TPS holders, citizens, allies and service groups as the fight shifts from the courts to Congress https://haitiantimes.com/2026/07/08/what-to-do-now-haitian-tps-community-action-guide/
Youth podcast P.S. Weekly’s episode about the NYC school bus crisis came out June 11. They interviewed PIST and featured a student and parent who have been leaders in PIST activities over the last six years.
Article with link to audio: https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026/06/04/ps-weekly-nyc-school-bus-delays-students-with-disabilities/
Spotify:
Apple Podcasts:
Community Education Council 30 in Queens passed a strong resolution on improving standards and governance of NYC student transportation. Contact cec30@schools.nyc.gov for a copy.
Recent advocacy for budget allocations to guarantee transportation for foster students and to expand travel training for students with disabilities - Keeping on the radar - descriptions at https://advocatesforchildren.org/policy-resource/budget-priorities-2027/
Electric buses are in effect for pre-K routes at one Bronx company https://bronx.news12.com/electric-school-buses-roll-into-the-bronx-bringing-cleaner-air-and-quieter-rides
Electric school buses tapped to shore up fragile US power grids during summer heat https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/electric-school-buses-tapped-shore-up-fragile-us-power-grids-during-summer-heat-2026-07-03/
Parent’s ongoing petition for cameras inside the school bus: https://c.org/7j5RkwfbzG
Youth from the Expand Student OMNY campaign delivered letters from community organizations to NYCPS when school ended. https://www.instagram.com/p/DaORJ_dTdoY/ Petition continues at https://act.transalt.org/a/expand-student-omny
Transit Equity advocates of all ages are urged by the CEC 8 Transportation Committee to protestify at the MTA about needing OMNY access for yellow bus riders. Likely dates include the mornings of July 27 and 29. Check pistnyc.org/events for details as they are announced.