What to know about Pr. George’s schools changing its bell times, bus stops

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April 19, 2024 at 2:03 p.m. EDT
Starting in the fall, many Prince George's County schools will have different starting and ending times, and adjustments will be made to school bus service. (Michael A. McCoy for The Washington Post)
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More than half of Prince George’s County Public Schools will shift their starting and endings times by up to 15 minutes in the next academic year as a part of ongoing changes that school officials say could ease transportation issues.

About 68 percent of the youngsters in Maryland’s second-largest school system, or about 86,000 students, use buses each day. But just over 800 drivers drive students to and from school, and 200 more are needed, according to a transportation audit released in January. Bus driver staffing shortages — which have impacted school systems nationally for years — have led to “chronic lateness,” auditors found. Parents have often shared anecdotes of their children being late to classes because of issues with the bus service.

After Superintendent Millard House II took charge of the school system in July, he announced he would hire the consultant 4mativ to conduct a transportation audit. The audit recommended several changes, including altering bell times and increasing the distances between bus stops.

Earlier this month, House’s administration decided to adopt some of those recommendations. Here is what Prince George’s parents need to know.