A young Chicago Public Schools student climbs into a school bus
A young Chicago Public Schools student climbs into a school bus. CPS is facing a bus driver shortage, causing the district to look into ways to bridge the gap. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
A young Chicago Public Schools student climbs into a school bus
A young Chicago Public Schools student climbs into a school bus. CPS is facing a bus driver shortage, causing the district to look into ways to bridge the gap. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

Under a major bus driver shortage, Chicago Public Schools isn’t providing busing to general education students for the rest of the school year.

The district is in early talks with a ride-share service that provides students transportation in other districts across the nation, like Denver Public Schools in Colorado.

But for now, Illinois code requires drivers to get a school bus permit — which could make this service harder to put into place, and some parents aren’t convinced this is the best way to bridge the gap.

Reset talks with a reporter who looked into this possibility and a parent who is creating his own solution: a carpooling match service for CPS families.

GUESTS: Jewél Jackson, investigative education reporter for the Illinois Answers Project

Ismael El-Amin, parent of two Chicago Public Schools students

A young Chicago Public Schools student climbs into a school bus
A young Chicago Public Schools student climbs into a school bus. CPS is facing a bus driver shortage, causing the district to look into ways to bridge the gap. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
A young Chicago Public Schools student climbs into a school bus
A young Chicago Public Schools student climbs into a school bus. CPS is facing a bus driver shortage, causing the district to look into ways to bridge the gap. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

Under a major bus driver shortage, Chicago Public Schools isn’t providing busing to general education students for the rest of the school year.

The district is in early talks with a ride-share service that provides students transportation in other districts across the nation, like Denver Public Schools in Colorado.

But for now, Illinois code requires drivers to get a school bus permit — which could make this service harder to put into place, and some parents aren’t convinced this is the best way to bridge the gap.

Reset talks with a reporter who looked into this possibility and a parent who is creating his own solution: a carpooling match service for CPS families.

GUESTS: Jewél Jackson, investigative education reporter for the Illinois Answers Project

Ismael El-Amin, parent of two Chicago Public Schools students