From Spectrum News /  By Marcine Graham Dallas / Aug. 12, 2026

DENTON COUNTY, Texas — Since June 1, the Little Elm Independent School District Transportation Department (TX) has been preparing for a smooth first day of school. Bus drivers in the district are shifting gears by learning new routes and stops.

“We have 77 total buses, and we have about 60 routes,” said Jonquez Moore, director of transportation for Little Elm ISD. “The state of Texas requires that each bus driver is certified through TEA [Texas Education Agency] to have their 20-hour certification card, and every three years they have to recertify with the eight-hour course."

This school year, Little Elm ISD is joining at least six other Texas school districts in using the Stopfinder App. The app allows parents to track their child’s bus route.

When they step onto the bus, the student must scan an RFID badge before they find a seat.

“When the bus get within five minutes of the stop, it alerts the parents. It also alerts them any time the kid gets on the bus and off the bus. So they’re able to get those push notifications to see where the child is at,” explained Moore.

School districts like Houston ISD and Fort Worth ISD also started using similar technology this school year.

“Even when they’re getting ready to get off the bus, they scan that same card, and it’ll let the driver know like yes, this is little Johnny’s stop or no, this is not little Johnny’s stop,” said Moore.