HopSkipDrive sought to understand the problems schools and parents face amid national bus driver shortages and shifting transportation needs. 

As students returned to schools across the country in fall 2025, The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in partnership with HopSkipDrive, examined the current experiences of school administrators and parents when it comes to student transportation. In the context of increased nationwide bus driver shortages and shifting transportation needs and responsibilities, AP-NORC and HopSkipDrive wanted to learn the common experiences and problems that school administrators and parents face and explore potential solutions to the issues that both groups identify.

NORC conducted a survey of parents and a survey of school administrators to understand their experiences with school transportation. 

We designed and implemented two surveys to assess the opinions and experiences of both parents and school administrators on school transportation. For the Parent Survey, we used AmeriSpeak^®, a probability-based panel representative of the U.S. household population, to poll adults 18 and older with school-aged children. For the School Administrator Survey, we used a nonprobability list from a marketing database and a nonprobability panel. The administrator survey polled people employed by a school or school district who have at least some responsibility for student transportation options, policies, and procedures at their job.

We provided a fully labeled dataset, statistical weights, a codebook, a comprehensive methods and transparency report, topline findings, banner tables, and conducted quality control testing, data cleaning, and data management.

We also produced a detailed report of the findings including analysis and data visualizations. Staff from NORC, The Associated Press, and HopSkipDrive also collaborated on a joint press release, and the Associated Press wrote an article covering key findings from the study.