BETHESDA, Maryland, March 3, 2026, 05:46 EST
- Montgomery County Public Schools has put out a request for bids on 140 diesel buses, pointing to issues with charging and maintenance in segments of its electric fleet.
- The district continues to operate 285 electric buses from a 2021 contract that’s now facing a legal challenge, after a dispute involving allegations of fraud.
- Maryland lawmakers are considering an emergency bill aimed at easing snow-day makeup requirements for Montgomery schools.
Montgomery County Public Schools wants to purchase 140 diesel school buses—its largest order of traditional buses in years—while the district contends with reliability issues plaguing segments of its electric bus fleet.
The Maryland district had pitched itself as the model for school bus electrification. That plan hit snags fast. Broken schedules, buses sidelined by freezing weather, and vehicles struggling to keep running—those unglamorous realities are now front and center. The move matters because of all that.
The timing comes as Maryland pushes to curb new bus contracts involving vehicles with tailpipe emissions—though districts are still feeling squeezed to stay on schedule and manage budgets.
Several of MCPS’s electric buses have been sidelined for extended stretches due to charging glitches and parts shortages, with the situation deteriorating further in colder conditions, a district spokesperson said. “Our primary focus is ensuring safe, timely and reliable transportation,” spokeswoman Liliana López said. The Washington Post
MCPS operates a fleet of over 1,300 buses, logging roughly 112,000 miles each day while transporting upwards of 103,000 students, the district says. Out of those, it’s aiming to have 45 diesel buses equipped for wheelchair accessibility, with a school board contract vote slated for April.
Five years back, MCPS inked a deal with Highland Electric Fleets for 326 electric buses—aimed at phasing out its existing fleet. But deliveries lagged, and maintenance snags meant some of those buses sat idle for long stretches. The county inspector general criticized the district for not pressing the company harder over these shortfalls.
In 2023, MCPS spent $14.7 million on 90 special-education diesel buses and later that year partially suspended its contract with Highland. The state board of education, calling the deal “tainted” due to an employee’s fraud conviction, voted in the fall to overturn the contract. MCPS appealed the decision and continues to partner with Highland for maintenance on 285 electric buses.
Under Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act, school districts won’t be able to sign new contracts for buses that aren’t zero-emission starting in 2025, unless they can’t get the funding or the right models for their needs. MCPS said it applied for and got a waiver. “Zero-emission” here means buses with no tailpipe emissions.
Montgomery County’s climate plan demands sharp reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, pressing the school system to halt purchases of non-electric buses by 2027. López said the district isn’t adding new electric buses “at this time,” though the commitment to lowering emissions stands.
Greater Greater Washington flagged the diesel order, calling it more evidence that the district’s all-electric bus ambitions are slipping, especially after the contract dispute and a string of operational issues.
Legislative records indicate Maryland lawmakers have pushed an emergency bill aimed at giving Montgomery’s school board the flexibility to satisfy state instructional mandates by meeting a minimum threshold of school hours, not both hours and days.
Montgomery’s school year now stretches to June 26, after snow days forced officials to tack on extra time—each added day racks up over $2 million in operating expenses, according to FOX 5 DC. “Get our kids the instruction they need,” said Delegate Sarah Wolek. FOX 5 DC
But the diesel deal isn’t sealed yet. The school board won’t vote for weeks, the state waiver could face questions, and the district’s legal dispute over its electric-bus contract drags on. So, the next step for the fleet — whether diesel, electric, or a blend — is still vulnerable to slowdowns and political tussles.
