For many working parents, managing school drop-offs and pick-ups has become a growing challenge that directly affects their employment stability and economic security, according to AP News.
A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and HopSkipDrive shows just how school transportation issues are disrupting work schedules across the country, particularly for mothers and lower-income families.
Elizabeth Rivera, a former warehouse worker in the Houston area, lost her job after repeatedly leaving her overnight shift early to drive her children to school when the bus failed to arrive.Â
Rivera’s experience reflects a larger trend: about one-third of parents say school drop-offs have caused them to miss work, while nearly 30% report having to turn down job opportunities.Â
For some, transportation issues have directly led to job loss.
This burden is often heavier on women. The data shows that mothers are more likely than fathers to be the primary school drivers and to have work or professional opportunities impacted as a result. Fifty-five percent of mothers reported these effects, compared with 45% of fathers.
Lower-income families are also disproportionately affected. Among parents earning under $100,000 annually, four in ten have missed work because of school transportation responsibilities, compared to three in ten among higher earners. These missed hours can add up to lost wages, fewer opportunities, and in some cases, termination.
Meredyth Saieed, a mother of two in North Carolina, faced this reality firsthand. After repeatedly missing her shifts as a server due to school pick-ups, she lost her job. Though government transportation was technically available, it didn’t meet her family’s needs. She has since been left without a vehicle and is relying on limited resources to support her children’s education.
Single parents face particularly steep obstacles. Syrina Franklin, a former postal worker in Chicago, lost her job after repeated lateness caused by juggling transportation for her children and grandson. She now relies on gig work through Uber and Instacart, a shift driven by necessity rather than preference.
Still, many parents are calling for more systemic solutions. While school bus usage has declined nationwide, about 40% of parents say their school commute would improve with expanded bus routes, better pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, or more flexible school start times.Â
Joanna McFarland, CEO of HopSkipDrive, emphasized that transportation should be considered a core part of school access, not a burden passed to families to figure out alone.
