Six Autistic Students Left on Bus for Hours

A city watchdog investigation found that six nonverbal autistic students, ages 6 to 8, were left on a school bus for more than four hours on Dec. 16, 2025, before arriving at P.S. 289 in Brooklyn at 1:25 p.m. A substitute driver went to incorrect locations, while the matron did not alert the school or bus depot; school officials struggled to reach the bus company, and parents used tracking devices to help locate the children. Investigators said the dispatcher claimed the bus’s GPS was not working, although the tracking system was functioning. One student was found lying down after urinating and removing her diaper and leggings. The driver and matron were placed on administrative leave, and the watchdog recommended they be barred from supervising city students; the incident renewed calls to improve the school bus system, particularly for students with disabilities.