"Bus-ed"

I just read an article in the Christian Science Monitor on line concerning a brewing fight by private bus companies that are trying to get the federal government to require cities to use private bus companies services verses public bus services to transport students. In many cases cities and counties use public services because of economics (cheaper) and flexibility (variety of routes and schedules) within public transportation. Private bus services are complaining that they can't compete with public bus services and want the federal government to force schools to use private bus services. My question is: Are we paying federal taxes for the U.S. Department of Education to provide business to private bus companies or for that department to provide the best service to children at the best bang for the buck? Moreover, if a private company can't compete, it should think seriously about changing its line of business.