In preparation for the 2022-23 school year, the Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Transportation Department has cleaned, disinfected, and serviced its buses as well as conducted driver training. Once the school year begins, all GCPS school buses will be cleaned and disinfected before drivers hit the road and after each morning and afternoon route is completed each day.

Gwinnett County students and parents will start noticing school buses driving routes in their neighborhoods starting Wednesday, July 27. All GCPS bus drivers will run their assigned routes during actual drive times in the mornings and afternoons, beginning Wednesday, July 27, through Tuesday, August 2. Parents and students should look for their school’s name, which will be displayed on a card in the bus window to help parents identify their child’s bus.  

Fast facts about GCPS transportation services …

(*These facts are based on the 2021-22 school year)

• Gwinnett transports more than 118,700 students twice a day and is the 3rd largest transporter of students in the country
• Operates more than 1,900 school buses
• Drives 8,169 runs per day
• Has 44,427 bus stops
• Drives more than 122,400 miles per day (equal to nearly 5 times around the equator daily)
• Drives nearly 23 million miles per year
• Also, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)— Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus instead of traveling by car.

Plan for additional time during the first three weeks of school

Once bus transportation begins for students, Gwinnett school officials ask that parents have students at the bus stop approximately 15 minutes before their scheduled bus arrival. In addition, plan for routes to run slower than normal during the first few weeks of school as drivers will go through additional procedures before releasing students at their bus stops to ensure the safety of students, especially young students who are new bus riders. This means that many buses may run behind schedule, especially on the afternoon routes.

Working together to keep Gwinnett children safe

Riding the school bus is an exciting experience, especially for young, first-time riders. As students begin riding the school bus again this year, GCPS asks parents to review bus stop safety with their children, including these back-to-school safety tips:

• Parents should find the location of their child’s bus stop (information is available at the school and in ParentVUE) and take their child to that bus stop before the student begins in-person instruction. This will help the student become familiar with the location.  
• Parents should drive their child around the area near the bus stop, ensuring familiarity with the route and recognition of where to get off the bus. Parents also should point out landmarks that are easily recognized to help the student know which stop is theirs. (Note: On afternoon routes, students are not let off a bus on cul-de-sac streets until the bus has completely turned around and is on its way out of the cul-de-sac.)
• Parents should make sure their children understand that if they are uncertain about a stop they should not get off the bus. The child should tell the driver he or she isn’t sure. The school bus driver will take the student back to the school and contact the parents. This is particularly important for younger school-aged students (grades K-2) who are more likely to follow the crowd off the bus. 
• Once students begin to attend school in-person, parents should set the child’s routine from the very first morning. If a family has decided a student will ride the school bus, a parent should have them ride the bus that first morning of in-person instruction and not drive them to school. Following the routine from the first day helps the student and the driver become familiar with each other and the bus route.
• Parents need to plan with a group of other parents and adults to have an adult supervisor present each morning and afternoon at the bus stop. When a student recognizes the adult supervisor on duty during the afternoon route, it gives them a sense of reassurance that they have gotten to the correct stop.

Number to call if child doesn’t get off bus: If, for some reason, a child does not get off his or her bus at the scheduled bus stop, parents or guardians should call their local school. If they can’t reach the school, they may call transportation at 770-513-6686.

Number to call regarding special education transportation questions and services: 770-513-6881.

If parents need assistance in resolving pick up/delivery questions during the school year: Parents should call the school their child attends. Often, they will have the needed information. If they do not have the information, the school is best equipped to contact the appropriate transportation staff member for a quick response.

Transportation Alternate Address Form or Transportation Parent Authorization Form needed for service to other addresses

All students will be picked up and dropped off at the bus stop serving their home address. Exceptions are made for those students who have a documented disability that requires a change, or those who have an “Alternative Address Form”, or a “Transportation Parent Authorization Form” on file. These forms identify alternate pickup and/or delivery (within the attending school zone) at an address designated by parents for child-care purposes. Each year a new form has to be filled out. These forms should be filled out annually as they are not carried over from year to year. For questions on these forms, parents or guardians should call 678-226-7036.