Back to School Part Two: Missouri Schools Return to Class

After Arkansas Schools returned to the classroom earlier this month, Missouri Schools follow suit this week.

The majority of schools will begin the 2026-27 School Year today while others including Branson and Shell Knob are set to begin on Wednesday. 

As students are returning to the classroom for the 2026-27 school year, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is encouraging parents to discuss safety with their children and reminding motorists to be prepared for increased traffic around schools and bus routes.

According to the Patrol, traffic crashes involving school buses remain a concern across the state. In 2025, one person was killed and 284 people were injured in crashes involving school buses. A total of 871 school bus-related traffic crashes were reported in Missouri last year.

The Patrol encourages students who walk to school to stay alert and cross streets only at intersections or marked crosswalks. Children should never cross between parked vehicles and should make eye contact with drivers before entering a roadway. When sidewalks are unavailable, pedestrians should walk facing traffic and move off the roadway when vehicles approach.

Students who ride bicycles should always wear helmets, obey traffic signs and signals, and ride as close to the right side of the road as safely possible. Riders are also encouraged to remain aware of their surroundings and avoid distractions that could prevent them from hearing or seeing approaching vehicles.

School bus riders are reminded to wait safely on the shoulder or sidewalk, avoid reaching beneath a bus for dropped items, and cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus when necessary. Once aboard, students should remain seated, keep aisles clear, and follow the driver's instructions during any emergency.

The Patrol also noted that the highest number of crashes involving drivers under age 21 occur between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., around school dismissal times. Young drivers are encouraged to remain focused on the road, wear seat belts, and comply with Missouri's hands-free driving law by putting their phones away while driving.

Parents are encouraged to discuss transportation safety with their children, whether they travel to school by bus, bicycle, on foot, or by car. The Patrol also reminds families of the Courage2ReportMO program, which provides a confidential and anonymous way to report safety concerns.

The program accepts reports involving potential threats such as assault, weapons, human trafficking, planned school attacks, school shootings, suicide threats, and extremist or terrorism-related activity. Tips can be submitted through the Courage2Report website and are answered around the clock by trained communications professionals.

Drivers should exercise extra caution near school zones, playgrounds, bicycle routes, and crosswalks as students return to school. The Patrol advises motorists to expect heavier traffic and allow additional travel time during the school year.

Missouri law requires drivers on two-lane roads to stop when approaching or following a school bus that is stopped with warning signals activated while loading or unloading children. On four-lane highways, only drivers following the bus are required to stop.

(The writing of this story was A.I. assisted with information from the Missouri State Highway Patrol)