Official Site of The State of New Jersey

TRENTON—For two years in a row, numerous New Jersey school bus companies failed to submit documentation showing that drivers met minimum safety standards before the start of the school year, according to a review by the Office of the State Comptroller.

In a letter OSC sent to NJ Commissioner of Education Kevin Dehmer, which was released today, OSC said it reviewed data from the Department of Education (DOE) for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years and found that while compliance among school bus companies improved, it still remained a problem. (OSC’s review focused on bus companies that had contracts with New Jersey public schools.)

OSC’s review showed 109 school bus companies in 14 counties had failed to submit required documentation proving drivers had criminal background checks and commercial drivers’ licenses by August 31, 2024. The year before, 300 school bus companies in 21 counties were non-compliant.

The absence of documentation does not mean these companies’ drivers lacked training, background checks, or other necessary credentials, but it does mean that the Department of Education and its Office of School Bus Safety (OSBS) had not seen documentation proving that drivers from these companies were qualified, the letter said.

After a series of tragic school bus accidents, the Legislature established OSBS in 2022 to oversee enforcement and ensure that the State prevents contracted bus companies from putting children in danger.

OSC’s first limited review for the 2023-2024 school year relied on an incomplete dataset, provided by DOE. OSC found "a significant number” of companies were non-compliant, the review said. In August 2024, OSC shared its concerns with DOE and OSBS, and within weeks, DOE responded that it was already aware of the problems and cited a list of measures being taken by OSBS, including a new notification system to alert companies that were non-compliant.

When OSC reviewed data from the 2024-2025 school year, it found that 109 companies were non-compliant at the start of the school year. OSBS reported that in November 2024, 28 companies remained non-compliant—despite the new notification system. By May 2025, two companies still apparently had not submitted the documentation, but it was not clear whether these companies or the 26 other companies were still in business or had active contracts.

OSC also found that at least 16 school bus companies failed to submit the required documentation as of August 31 in both years reviewed.

In light of the findings, OSC recommended that DOE consider automating the new notification system so that there are regular alerts, and OSC urged County superintendents to do their part by maintaining an accurate list of all of the school bus contracts in their counties. OSC also recommended that the Legislature considering strengthening DOE’s hand, such as enabling DOE to inform the public when companies are non-compliant.

Read the letter.

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To report government fraud, waste, mismanagement, or corruption, file a complaint with OSC or call 1-855-OSC-TIPS.