HCPSSTransportation Reminders for the Start of the 2025-2026 School Year
August 22nd, 2025
We are excited to welcome our K–12 students to school on Monday, with our pre-K students beginning on Thursday. The start of the school year always comes with an adjustment period for many, and that includes student transportation. The Office of Student Transportation has worked diligently this summer to prepare for the school year.
The start of the school year inevitably will see a significant increase in traffic, with an influx of buses on the roads, more cars dropping off students, as well as students driving to school. This can lead to unexpected delays in students arriving at school and being dropped off on time.
Families and community members can help by allowing for extra time, exercising caution when driving near buses and bus stops, and following traffic laws and school traffic patterns.
Tips for Transportation Readiness
Families whose students receive transportation should consult the online bus locator to confirm bus stop locations, pickup and drop-off times. Students should arrive at a bus stop at least five minutes prior to the established pick-up time as buses will not wait at a stop if they arrive within five minutes of the scheduled pick-up time. View more tips for transportation readiness.
What to Do in the Event of a Delay or Cancellation
If there is a bus delay of 15 minutes or more, HCPSS will text and email alerts. Families of students who ride buses operated by Zum Services can additionally opt to be alerted to delays through the Zum app. When students arrive at school on a delayed bus, schools are asked to make sure they are not marked tardy.
Should a bus route be unexpectedly canceled, HCPSS will notify families as soon as possible via text and email alerts. The Office of Student Transportation makes every effort to fill a canceled route when possible.
If your child’s bus is delayed by more than 15 minutes and you have not received a text or email message, please call the Office of Student Transportation at 410-313-6732. For non-urgent questions or concerns specific to a bus or bus route, contact your Transportation Area Team or email transportation@hcpss.org.
Please note that delays are expected during the first two weeks as drivers become more familiar with new routes and traffic patterns and families adjust to pick-up times. Additionally, there may be some route timing changes based on daily traffic patterns and ridership. If there are significant changes to a bus route, the Office of Student Transportation will work with schools to communicate those changes to families. Unless there are significant safety concerns, route changes, including bus stop adjustments, will not occur until after Sept. 15.
Student Pedestrian Safety
In addition to our bus riders, HCPSS has several thousand students who walk or ride their bikes to school each day. We ask drivers to please be aware of students and all pedestrians making their way to and from school. Please obey crosswalk laws and instructions from crossing guards to help students and other pedestrians stay safe. View more student safety tips.