Parents take legal action against DC school bus system for ongoing failures

Elizabeth Daggett has faced years of uncertainty about when or if her son’s school bus will arrive. The irregular scheduling and delays have been especially difficult for her son, who has autism and requires medications on a strict schedule. Transporting approximately 4,000 students daily, the city-organized buses managed by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education serve children like Daggett’s son, who attends St. Coletta of Greater Washington in Southeast D.C.

Though there was slight improvement in service after Daggett became involved in a lawsuit against the transportation system, she insists that it remains far from flawless. After a recent court ruling permitting a class-action lawsuit aimed at revamping the system, parents like Daggett and organizations like the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs are advocating for systematic changes. The lawsuit focuses on altering bus route planning and enhancing the training for bus drivers and aides who work with special needs students.

For instance, Daggett’s son, who needs a harness when in a car, couldn’t board the bus on occasions due to missing safety equipment. Kathy Zeisel, director of special legal projects at Children’s Law Center, has expressed dismay at the lack of progress in catering to vulnerable students. Instead of solving issues individually, the lawsuit strives to build an all-encompassing, dependable system for every student. The hope is to establish reliable real-time tracking to put parents at ease and ensure students’ safety.

Failure on the part of school buses to operate smoothly translates to underserved children not receiving the education they deserve. Daggett emphasizes that nonverbal students strapped into seats for safety should have the same educational rights as neurotypical children. The legal efforts are chiefly about rectifying systemic, long-standing issues affecting the quality of life and access to education for students with disabilities.

As Daggett seeks a system that offers transparent bus tracking akin to food deliveries, she advocates for proper enforcement of such services within the District of Columbia. Amidst the ongoing lawsuit, WTOP remains engaged with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education for updates on the situation. In a bid to support families like Daggett’s and push for substantial systematic changes, the legal proceedings aim to ensure all students, especially those with disabilities, are afforded a fair, equitable, and reliable means of accessing education.