More than 90% of school districts nationwide are still reporting bus driver shortages, and in Ohio that's continuing in part because public schools must transport non-public school students. There are 7,000 fewer bus drivers than before the pandemic, but some districts are running more routes for private and charter school students than their own students.

Before the pandemic, Ohio employed 25,706 active bus drivers. But by August 2025, that number had plummeted to just 18,817. Doug Palmer, who consulted on school transportation for the Ohio School Boards Association until last year, said in an interview there are several reasons why.

"It really started in 2018. That was when more stores started doing home delivery. People that want to drive for a living have other choices now," Palmer s

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