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.
There are not currently any upcoming Electric School Bus Accelerator cohorts, but get in touch to discuss our future programming for school districts.
The Electric School Bus Accelerator was 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.
Congratulations to our first cohort!
In 2025, our first cohort of school transportation leaders completed the Electric School Bus Accelerator!
Our graduates: Edmonds School District | Franklin Pierce School District | Peninsula School District #401 | Tacoma Public Schools | Walla Walla Public Schools
Read the full report about the 2025 ESB Accelerator.
About the Electric School Bus Accelerator
8-week 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’s is designed to make electrification accessible for districts and fleets of all sizes by bridging the gap between learning and action, and providing strong support extending beyond the 8-week program.
Learning
Comprehensive curriculum delivered in weekly sessions by fleet electrification experts, utilities, government agencies, and districts who have already transitioned their fleets
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, and cohort-based support through networking with peers, meet-ups, and small group working and feedback sessions
Curriculum
The Accelerator’s comprehensive curriculum offers specialized, Washington-specific guidance on a range of 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
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.
who should Enroll?
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.
The Fleet Electrification Accelerator has served more than 60 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.