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Over 20 million U.S. students live too far to walk or bike to school and instead rely on the bus, private vehicles, or public transportation. In fact, 60% of low-income students ride the school bus each day. Longer, unreliable commutes to school are associated with increased risk of absenteeism and decreased sleep time. This leads to both negative health impacts as well as decreased academic achievement. Therefore, strengthened school transportation policies and practices are vital to promote student health, educational outcomes, and equitable school access.
Lack of adequate, affordable and reliable transportation can also be a barrier to school choice. Low-income students may be unable to physically access the school via parent-provided transportation or live in neighborhoods where they are ineligible to use school-provided transportation. Other families may not have the funds or time to transport their child to schools. When available, some students rely on public transit which can be expensive and unreliable.
Just as student transportation can hinder a student’s choice in schooling options, it can also facilitate it. In fact, stronger student transportation polices can promote more equitable access to schools across a city or state by providing students access to better educational opportunities. Explore this week’s resources for policies and best practices to promote equitable, reliable, affordable and accessible student transportation to school.
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