Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is the largest school district in Wisconsin. It’s also one of the most complex, urban student transportation systems in the country. The district relies on a modern approach to transportation to make sure students have consistent access the schools and programs that best support them.
For more than two decades, MPS has partnered with a mix of transportation providers including EverDriven to meet transportation needs, supplementing traditional yellow bus service. Their innovative approach to student transportation balances student stability, cost control, and access to education.
The Challenge: Managing Transportation in a Complex, Dynamic Landscape
High poverty rates, frequent student mobility, and extremely cold winters all contribute to Milwaukee’s complex student environment. Also, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program allows low- and middle-income families to send their children to private schools that they otherwise couldn’t afford – which adds a layer of complexity to the transportation system.
Reliable transportation is the bridge between students and their education, teachers, and support networks. Getting every student to their school each day is the priority for district leaders like David Fifarek, Senior Director of Business and Transportation Services at Milwaukee Public Schools.
“We’ve been putting a student and the type of education they think is right, or their caregivers think is right, and access to that sort of program at the forefront – even if it creates a logistical and operational puzzle,” said Fiferak.
The Strategy: A Diverse Approach
MPS has taken a pragmatic approach to student transportation, building a diverse network of providers. District leaders continually evaluate their transportation vendors to make sure they fulfill specific needs based on availability, service model, and cost. Altogether, they have the flexibility to match each student’s needs with the most appropriate service.
Their student transportation providers generally fall into two categories:
- Human service transportation providers: Companies that operate their own fleets or subcontract drivers to provide structured transportation services.
- Rideshare-style providers: Platforms that rely on parent drivers or app-based coordination models.
For nearly two decades, EverDriven has been part of Milwaukee’s “human service” network, offering on-demand driver capacity to make sure students have a reliable ride to school even when demand spikes.
And unlike many districts that assign transportation providers based on geography, Milwaukee distributes work primarily based on live-mile cost efficiency, allowing the district to maximize coverage while maintaining tight control of transportation spending.
But this isn’t the only way Milwaukee Public Schools thinks creatively about student transportation.
Thinking Outside the Box
One recent initiative involved an “out-of-the-box” collaboration with EverDriven, where the district purchased vans directly, and contracted EverDriven to drive them. This unique model allows MPS to reduce costs while expanding service capacity.
All vehicles in the program are hybrid, supporting the district’s broader sustainability goals. With one of the highest asthma rates in the country, reducing vehicle emissions is an important public health consideration for Milwaukee.
District leaders are also exploring ways to maximize the use of these transportation assets beyond traditional morning and afternoon routes. For instance, they’re utilizing these vehicles to support student transportation to and from:
- Apprenticeship programs
- Athletic events
- Extracurricular activities
- Specialized educational programs
And the district is bringing that same creativity to the driver experience as well.
Building Career Paths for Drivers
Like many districts across the country, Milwaukee Public Schools faces ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining drivers.
Historically, obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and completing certification requirements could take one to two months before a new driver could begin operating a school bus. Many prospective drivers left the pipeline before completing the process.
To address this challenge, the district introduced vans that do not require a CDL, so drivers can start helping kids get to school while completing their commercial vehicle training.
The program creates a natural career pathway:
- Drivers begin operating vans
- They complete CDL certification while working
- They transition into full school bus drivers
This approach strengthens the district’s transportation workforce and creates an accessible entry point into the profession.
The Impact: Transportation That Protects Student Stability
Milwaukee Public Schools’ flexible transportation strategy allows the district to serve students whose needs extend beyond traditional bus routes. By combining multiple providers, innovative vehicle strategies, and a focus on cost efficiency, the district has created a system that adapts to real-world conditions.
The results include:
- Reliable transportation for vulnerable students: Students experiencing housing instability can maintain consistent attendance and remain connected to their schools.
- Operational flexibility: A diversified provider network allows the district to respond quickly to changes in demand.
- Cost control: Distributing work based on cost per mile and exploring creative vehicle models helps the district maintain budget discipline.
- Long-term sustainability: Hybrid vehicles and new driver pipelines support environmental and workforce goals.
Looking Ahead
District leaders expect the number of providers to shrink over time as the market matures and the district’s strategy evolves, but one thing will remain constant: The district’s focus on ensuring transportation supports student stability and access to education.
“In a district like Milwaukee, transportation is about access,” said Fifarek. “Our job is to make sure students can get where they need to be, every single day.”
