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The basics:

• 63% of NJ voters support alternative student transportation options
• Support spans party lines, with backing from Democrats and Republicans
• Advocates say reforms could help homeless, disabled students
• School districts could reduce transportation costs through greater flexibility

A new poll out from Fairleigh Dickinson University finds strong bipartisan support among New Jersey voters to expand transportation options for homeless and disabled students. Advocates say the changes could improve services while also helping school districts manage rising costs.

FDU conducted the survey in partnership with New Jersey Friends of Affordable Safe Student Transportation (NJ FASST). The poll surveyed 805 registered voters in the state between March 20–28, 2026, with a margin of error of +/- 3.4%.

It found that 63% of voters support allowing schools to use alternative transportation providers and private drivers for certain students. Comparatively, 33% oppose the change.

Notably, support crossed party lines in a state and at a time where few issues escape political polarization and partisanship. Sixty-five percent of Democrats and 61% of Republicans backed the proposal, while support remained relatively consistent across ideological groups.

Younger voters especially showed support, with 77% of those under 30 favoring the change, compared with 51% of voters age 65 and older.

Current system

NJBIZ spoke to Dan Cassino, executive director of the FDU Poll about the poll. Cassino, also a professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University, said the findings show that voters view school transportation as a practical rather than political issue.

“Education, like paving the roads, is mostly a technocratic enterprise,” Cassino told NJBIZ. “It is about what is the most efficient way to do this. How can we get the best bang for our buck?”

Under current New Jersey law, school bus drivers employed by bus companies or school districts, approved school personnel or parents must generally provide transportation for students. Advocates argue the system is particularly challenging for homeless students, who may move during the school year, as well as students with disabilities who may require individualized transportation.

Possible alternative

Most states allow school districts to use alternative transportation providers for students with individualized needs. This method relies on vetted drivers operating smaller vehicles, such as sedans, SUVs and minivans rather than traditional school buses.

According to NJ FASST, 41 states have adopted more flexible transportation laws while maintaining background checks and other safety requirements.

NJ FASST is a coalition that includes parents, educators, nonprofits, small businesses and taxpayers seeking a legislative fix to allow alternative student transportation.

‘Not cost-effective’

Cassino said New Jersey’s transportation rules can create costly inefficiencies for school districts, particularly when serving students with specialized needs.

“This is one of those little inefficiencies that massively increases the cost of education in New Jersey,” he said. “We’ve got lots of disabled kids who may not be able to ride on those big yellow buses. And we have lots of homeless kids, and they are left out in the cold.

“The idea you have to send a bus to pick up one kid from a shelter is ridiculous – or task a school employee to do it. It’s just not cost-effective.”

When you find an issue where it can bring down costs and it doesn’t disadvantage anyone, that’s a slam dunk.
– Dan Cassino, executive director, FDU Poll

The issue is especially acute as districts grapple with rising special education costs and tight budgets. Cassino noted that transportation requirements can create significant expenses for school systems seeking to provide individualized services.

“Anything that can bring down costs without hurting people has to be on the table,” said Cassino. “When you find an issue where it can bring down costs and it doesn’t disadvantage anyone, that’s a slam dunk.”

The quietest voices

Cassino also emphasized that many of the families most affected by current transportation limitations often have the least voice in policymaking.

“Parents of homeless children are not the ones who are going to school board meetings,” he explained. “No one’s advocating for them. So, it’s important to get awareness up, and that’s part of what we’re doing here, is pointing out to people this is a big problem for schools. And the feedback we’ve gotten on this from school districts is – please, we want to be able to do other things, have more flexibility. We have other things we can do with this money.

“This also ties very much into the continuing debate about special education in New Jersey.”

Advocates argue that greater flexibility would benefit not only students and families but also taxpayers.

“New Jersey’s students and families deserve transportation options that are safe, reliable, affordable, and adaptable to the realities of today’s school day and workforce schedules which is clearly supported by a majority of New Jersey residents as this poll proves,” said Ocean Township Mayor John Napolitani Sr. “It is vital to advance innovative, practical solutions that improve student access to education while easing burdens on families, school districts, and taxpayers.”

Survey says…

Another FDU Poll gauged voters’ thoughts on Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s proposed budget – notably spending cuts and tax increases. Here’s what they said.

The poll’s bipartisan findings could also provide lawmakers with political cover to pursue reforms.

“Legislators are looking for stuff that’s positive. They want to be able to tell people – here’s what I’m doing to cut your costs,” Cassino explained. “They like that. And when something is supported across the spectrum, this does create some momentum, hopefully, and gives people ammunition to say, yeah, you need to be doing this.”

A closer look

Cassino said the results may reflect a broader public willingness to modernize government services in ways that reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

“In order to control costs in education, we need to take a close look at everything we’re doing at all stages of the educational process and say, where are there efficiencies to be had,” said Cassino. “And that’s not something we generally do.

“There are lots of ways you can save money that don’t involve hurting students.”

For Cassino, the findings ultimately point to a simple conclusion: “We need to provide the best education for the least amount of money. Period. And the same is true with school transportation.”

He concluded that there’s not really a great case to be made for limiting the options that schools districts have in transporting students.

We need to provide the best education for the least amount of money. Period. And the same is true with school transportation.
– Dan Cassino

“Some kids have special needs, and voters are OK with giving schools flexibility to address their needs,” he said.

Despite the polarized times on seemingly every issue, Cassino stressed that here in New Jersey, education is the one thing that Republicans and Democrats can always agree on. “There’s no partisan way to get kids to school,” he said.

The full poll results are available here.