Chicago Parents in Tears as 1,900 Students with Disabilities are Without Bus Service on First Day of School, Violating Federal Law

By Illinois Review

On Monday, more than 1,900 Chicago Public School students with disabilities were without bus service on the first day of school as bus driver shortages left families in tears – a clear violation of Public Law 94-142 known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975.

CPS officials have stated that over 8,800 students with disabilities have transportation to school, but claim that a bus driver shortage and an increase in the number of students with disabilities still leaves nearly 20 percent without bus transportation on the first day of school.

On Monday, district officials issued a statement,

“The District is dedicated to providing reliable transportation to all eligible students. Despite challenges like the national driver shortage and varied schedules, we remain focused on getting students to and from school safely and on time.”

However, PL 94-142 requires public schools to provide special education and related services – which includes bus transportation for children with disabilities ages 3-21. And failing to provide such services is a direct violation of federal law.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) comprises six pillars and is guided by a single principle: that students with disabilities receive the same general education as students without. Denying students with disabilities bus service is therefore denying them from receiving the same education as students without disabilities. And a violation of federal law.

Terri Roback, a special education advocate in Chicago said, “It’s a total mess. There are people on there [Facebook pages] saying they are in tears, crying because they don’t know how they are going to get their children to school. It is a real hardship.”

In many cases, family members are staying home to care for their sibling or child – and are left with few options after being denied bus service. Many families received emails from CPS officials last Friday stating that their child with disabilities won’t be provided with bus service this year.

In previous years, families were given $500 per month to find alternative transportation, but this year, funds are limited and fewer children qualify – leaving many in the disability community devastated.

Despite financial constraints, the City of Chicago spent $3.5 million to host a NASCAR race and over $300 million to house and feed migrants. And for the Democratic National Convention last week, it was rumored that the city spent $76 million on security costs, including police officer overtime.