Chicago Students Track Bus Arrival before Stepping Outside

Rather than standing outside waiting at public bus stops, some Chicago students who commute by public transit can now check out large displays inside their schools to know when their buses will be arriving. The monitors were put in place by Chicago Public Schools in 35 schools located in neighborhoods with high levels of street crime.

The displays show real-time feeds from the Chicago Transit Authority's Bus Tracker, an application intended for mobile devices that uses global positioning system (GPS) data to determine where a bus is, make announcements as buses approach stops, and report back information about the bus to transit servers. Developed by Clever Devices, the app was launched in 2009 to help bus riders know when it was time to head to their bus stops.

Now schools are finding a use for it too. According to coverage by CBS Chicago, the district chose to invest in the displays to relieve student stress. "They carry that stress with them into the classroom and it impacts their academic achievement, so what this does is this hopefully mitigate the amount of stress," said Chicago Public Schools Chief Safety and Security Officer Jadine Chou in the report. The program cost about $250,000, which came from grants. The district expects to install displays in additional schools where large numbers of students ride public transportation or there are safety concerns.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • laptop displaying a glowing digital brain and data charts sits on a metal shelf in a well-lit server room with organized network cables and active servers

    Cisco Unveils AI-First Approach to IT Operations

    At its recent Cisco Live 2025 event, Cisco introduced AgenticOps, a transformative approach to IT operations that integrates advanced AI capabilities to enhance efficiency and collaboration across network, security, and application domains.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.