2026 Transportation Consistency Is a Lifeline for Students with Additional Needs

New Research SOURCE: https://info.everdriven.com/transportation-and-student-outcomes-survey Transportation Consistency Is a Lifeline for Students with Additional Needs Every district works hard to get students to school. This research shows what happens when that ride is truly reliable. 800+ caregivers, teachers, and administrators all describe the same pattern: when the driver, vehicle, and pickup time stay consistent, students arrive calmer and stay more settled through the school day. This results in academic and social-emotional success for vulnerable student populations. Conversely, when transportation is inconsistent, districts face chronic absenteeism, lateness, classroom disruptions, and a loss of attendance-based funding. The data points to a clear opportunity for districts to close the gap between the students who could benefit from consistent transportation and the students currently receiving it. Key Takeaways: 44% of students arrive calm and ready to learn after a smooth transportation morning, compared to just 8% after a difficult one. 76% of caregivers say reliable transportation makes their child more successful in school. 76% of administrators say transportation issues have hurt the attendance metrics their funding depends on. 71% of administrators say transportation reliability affects on-time IEP and related-service delivery. 77% of teachers lose instructional time to transportation every week