Downtown-based transportation provider HopSkipDrive announced plans last week to expand into the Atlanta metro area.

The company, which deploys a network of alternative transportation options for schoolchildren, said the move capitalizes on regulatory changes in Georgia that allow school districts to use small vehicle transportation alongside the traditional buses.

Founded in 2014 by a trio of working mothers, HopSkipDrive develops a network of vetted drivers who are able to spring into action in as little as six hours to help bridge gaps with school bus shortages and otherwise handle child transport needs that don’t really align with a bus route.

“We’re thrilled to share that HopSkipDrive will soon be available in Atlanta, offering a simple solution that we’ve seen significantly transforms the lives of students and communities: access to safe, reliable rides,” Joanna McFarland, chief executive and co-founder of HopSkipDrive, said in a statement.

HopSkipDrive works with more than 10,000 schools nationally, with more than 600 school district, nonprofit and government clients in 13 states. Its drivers must have five or more years of caregiving experience and are typically connected with students who are homeless, in foster care or have disabilities.

The Riverside County Office of Education reported that its foster care students increased school attendance from 29% to 78% after implementing HopSkipDrive’s services. Similarly, Detroit Public Schools Community District reported a 14-percentage-point decrease in chronic absenteeism after developing a new program that includes the HopSkipDrive’s services.

The company regularly ranks among the fastest-growing businesses in the county. Based on three-year revenue increases, it ranked No. 30 in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s list of such businesses this year. Last year, it was the second fastest-growing company here.