Chicago Public Schools to limit bus rides amid driver shortage – NBC …

The start of school for Chicago Public School students is just 20 days away, but in a letter to CPS families, the district said it only had half of the necessary school bus drivers to provide transportation for eligible students.

It will provide transportation to 7,000 kids who are considered priority students as required by state law.

“We have opted to follow our policy, which is transporting the students who are most in need, which is our diverse learners and our students in temporary living situations,” CPS Chief Operating Officer Charles Mayfield told NBC 5.

The only students who will have district-provided buses for the first day are those diverse learners and students with temporary living situations who already requested transportation. Siblings of those students who attend the same school will also be covered.

If a student falls into one of those categories and has not yet requested transportation, the district will offer a $500 stipend until the…