Fairfax County Public Schools’ integration of technology into its operations will extend to its transportation system in the coming academic year.
New identification cards that can be used to track when students get on and off a school bus will be rolled out across the division when the 2026-2027 school year starts on Aug. 24, FCPS announced on Tuesday (July 21).
When scanned near the bus doors, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology embedded in the new cards allows the bus driver via recently upgraded tablets to see more detailed information about who the student is, their assigned bus stop, and where and when they board and exit the bus.
“These simple taps will help the FCPS Office of Transportation (OTS) know which students are on which school buses, improving safety and efficiency for one of the largest public school bus operations in the country,” the school district said in a press release.
FCPS began testing the new bus technology last summer before rolling it out to more drivers during the 2025-2026 school year.
In addition to tracking student check-ins, the tablets show the driver’s assigned route and can assist with navigation if they need to deviate due to a road closure or other obstacles. The data is also transmitted in real time to a dispatcher, who can send help if there’s an emergency, FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a video explaining the technology.
The initial pilot received “positive feedback from the drivers, especially for the navigation functions,” according to FCPS Bus Driver Supervisor Lei Shi.
“I’m confident that when everyone knows how to use the system, gets used to it, it will be a very powerful tool,” Shi said.
Later this fall, families will be able to get real-time updates about their kid’s bus location and when they board and exit the vehicle through a new mobile app replacing Here Comes the Bus. Presumably to ward off privacy concerns, FCPS noted that the system tracks the location of the student’s bus once they tap in, not the students themselves.
“Together, the tablets, student ID cards, and the new app create a more connected transportation experience for students, families, drivers, and schools,” FCPS said.
Color-coded by school, the new ID cards include information about the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on the back, as required by Virginia law since 2023.
The cards will be issued to all students, including those who don’t normally ride a school bus, since they will eventually be used for other services, including school meals and field trips, according to FCPS.
“As we approach the first day of school, FCPS will continue to share important updates with families about the new student ID cards and when the new bus app will become available,” the school system said.
The full rollout of the new student IDs and bus technology upgrades will come as FCPS starts to phase in revised school boundaries approved by the school board in January. More than 900 affected students were given the option to remain at their existing school, but bus transportation will be provided only to high school students who opt out of their newly assigned school.
