About the Electric School Bus Accelerator
Save time and enjoy a smoother transition to electric buses by enrolling in the accelerator.
The Electric School Bus Accelerator is a hands-on, cohort-based program that equips school districts in Washington State with the knowledge, tools, and networks to transition to an electric school bus fleet.
Building on the highly successful Fleet Electrification Accelerator program, the Electric School Bus Accelerator program has been customized to meet the unique needs of school districts and school buses.
Want to learn more? Get in touch to discuss our upcoming programming for school districts.
Congratulations to the graduates of our Winter 2025 cohort!
Edmonds School District | Franklin Pierce School District | KWRL Transportation | Peninsula School District #401 | Tacoma Public Schools | Walla Walla Public Schools | Wenatchee School District
Electric school bus Accelerator details
8-week cohort-based program
Weekly 60-minute online sessions, with optional office hours
Two-day in-person session. Travel stipend available
Up to four participants per school district
No cost to attend
The Electric School Bus Accelerator is developed by the Breaking Barriers Collaborative, in partnership with the Electrification Coalition and the Washington State University Green Energy Program and with a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Curriculum
The Electric School Bus Accelerator’s comprehensive learning curriculum is designed to make electrification accessible for districts and fleets of all sizes.
The Accelerator is designed to bridge the gap between learning and doing, with strong support that extends beyond the program’s 8 weeks.
Learning: Comprehensive curriculum delivered via weekly sessions by fleet electrification experts, utilities, government agencies, and districts who have already transitioned their fleets—on topics including:
How to create a school bus electrification plan
Financial incentives from federal/state governments and utilities and how to secure them
Charging/fueling infrastructure, including working with utilities
Fleet operations, route management and resiliency planning
Driver and maintenance staff training
Change management to secure buy-in across your district and community
Integrating equity into your fleet electrification plan
Doing: Weekly assignments that become the building blocks of your school bus electrification plan.
Support:
10 hours of one-on-one support from experts at the Electrification Coalition
Cohort-based support through networking with peers. meet-ups, and small group working and feedback sessions
Specialized Washington-specific guidance from speakers
who should Enroll?
We encourage any school districts in Washington State to enroll, regardless of the size of your fleet. This program serves districts across the spectrum of electrification progress, from those who have begun their journey to those with no previous knowledge or experience. Even if you aren’t yet ready to purchase vehicles, coordinating utility upgrades and other logistics can take a year or longer—meaning the time to start learning and planning is now.
You should enroll if…
Your district is serious about electrifying your school bus fleet.
The person(s) responsible for managing your fleet (ideally two people, and up to four total) can invest at least two hours per week over 8 weeks to build your fleet electrification plan. We recommend this program for Directors of Transportation, as well as school district employees working in facilities, sustainability, and finance.
We especially encourage enrollment from school districts with a high percentage of students eligible for free and reduced meals, and those in areas disproportionately impacted by pollution.
Want to learn more? Fill out a contact form, and we’ll be in touch within 1 week to discuss.
A Proven Program
The Electric School Bus Accelerator Program is based on the highly successful Fleet Electrification Accelerator program, and has been customized to meet the unique needs of school districts and school buses.
Our Fleet Electrification Accelerator program has served more than 80 organizations, including small and large businesses, universities and colleges, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.
Learn more about the impact of our programs on our Graduates and Testimonials pages. You can also learn more about the Breaking Barriers Collaborative on our About Us page.