(PartiallyPolitics.com) – In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, parents have the option of making up to $3,000 for driving students to schools as the city is facing serious problems with getting students to schools because of the bus driver shortage.
There are 197,000 students in the Philadelphia School District ranging from kindergarten all the way to high school. In June the District opened enrollment for parents to participate in their Flat Rate Program which would allow all parents or guardians to not use their student’s bus assignment and instead drive their children to and from school. Those who choose to participate in the program would receive 4300 each month. There is also an option for those who want to opt out of the morning or the afternoon bus which would allow them to get $150 monthly.
The pandemic worsened the already short-staffed schools and has led to many districts being unable to deal with the shortages in recent years. According to a USA Today analysis there is no state in the 2023-2024 school year that has not had to deal with at least one instance of bus driver shortage.
Philadelphia has increased the pay available to bus drivers in the hopes of recruiting new drivers. Full-time drivers in the state have a starting salary of $45,000 a year while part-time workers make around half of that at $23,000. Drivers can also receive paid training in order to get their commercial driver’s license.
Schools in the area are expected to start on September 5 and as of right now, there are still 105 openings for bus drivers in the school district.
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