TRENTON, NJ – Several Lakewood-based school transportation companies were among 16 operators across New Jersey cited by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) for failing to submit mandatory safety documentation before the start of the 2025–2026 school year.
In a follow-up review released by OSC, investigators found that while most school bus companies improved compliance since the previous year, 16 still missed the required September 8 deadline to file proof that drivers had completed background checks, held commercial licenses, and met other state-mandated safety standards.
Among the companies flagged were four based in Lakewood: Belz Institution of Lakewood, Tiferes Yisroel, United Talmudical Academy, and Wilderness Eagle — all located in Ocean County.
Follow-up finds progress but lingering problems
The Comptroller’s Office reported that 109 bus companies in 14 counties had failed to submit documentation for the 2024–2025 school year. A year later, the same group was reviewed, and only 16 remained noncompliant as of the September deadline, though 13 eventually filed by November 1.
The review also revealed broader issues with the Department of Education’s Office of School Bus Safety (OSBS), including outdated procedures requiring some companies to hand-deliver documents rather than submit them electronically. OSC urged OSBS to modernize its systems and create a statewide electronic submission process.
Officials clarified that a lack of paperwork does not necessarily mean drivers were unqualified, only that the State did not receive proof of compliance before the academic year began.
State oversight strengthened after prior bus crashes
The OSBS was created in 2022 following several fatal school bus accidents, with the goal of enforcing safety standards and preventing unqualified operators from transporting students. While the Comptroller’s report noted steady improvement in compliance, it concluded that additional reforms are still needed to ensure consistency and accountability across all counties.
Key facts:
- 16 school bus companies in 8 counties failed to submit safety documentation by deadline
- 4 cited companies are based in Lakewood: Belz Institution, Tiferes Yisroel, United Talmudical Academy, and Wilderness Eagle
- OSC urges modernization of the state’s school bus safety documentation system to prevent future lapses
