Student Transportation of America (STA), a leader in student transportation, safety, and fleet services across North America, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sunrise Transportation, effective September 18, 2026.
Sunrise provides safe, reliable transportation for special needs and general education students across Illinois and Connecticut. Based in Downers Grove, Illinois, Sunrise has been serving student transportation needs for nearly 40 years with a fleet of nearly 1,000 buses, vans and SUVs equipped with a variety of accessible features and the latest in safety and other technologies. They transport more than 23,000 students daily across their operations. Sunrise has a special focus on serving special education and differently-abled students with their unique transportation needs.
For STA, this acquisition reflects an expansion of footprint across multiple locations across Illinois and Connecticut, further solidifying our presence in those regions. Sunrise Transportation’s values closely mirror STA’s mission to provide safe, reliable and caring transportation to the communities we serve.
“Sunrise Transportation’s focus on safety, reliability, compassion represents exactly the kind of organization we are proud to welcome into the STA Family of Brands,” said Gene Kowalczewski, CEO of Student Transportation of America. “Their commitment to technology and innovation partnered with their strong local leadership and deep ties to the communities aligns perfectly with who we are as a company. We are excited to support and continue this growth.”
Across North America, STA’s Family of Brands is united by a shared focus on what matters most: safety, reliability, and care for people. The model combines local expertise and relationships with the resources, technology, and support of a larger organization—ensuring communities continue to receive personalized service while benefiting from industry-leading transportation practices.
STA will work closely with Sunrise leadership and employees to ensure a seamless transition for customers and staff. Day-to-day operations will continue without interruption, and the company looks forward to preserving the strong local relationships that have defined success for Sunrise for almost half a century.
