Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Dallas Independent School District announced the High School Student Bus Maintenance Externship Program, pairing high school students with DART mechanics for supervised, hands-on training.
Participating Dallas ISD high school students will work alongside DART bus maintenance professionals throughout the semester. The program focuses on multi-point vehicle inspections, engine fundamentals, and interior climate system maintenance, with students gaining technical proficiency and leadership skills.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit said the collaboration supports education in the region and cultivates diesel maintenance mechanics while addressing workforce shortages. Dallas ISD Deputy Chief of Strategic Initiatives Oswaldo Alvarenga said, "Our students grow the most when they're in the real world solving real problems. For us, partnering with DART is a meaningful way to support the next generation of skilled technicians while creating immediate, hands-on impact for our students in high-demand career pathways."