Some Pa. schools are cutting off charter students’ access to yellow buses after court ruling
Summary
Some public school districts in Pennsylvania are stopping traditional yellow bus rides for charter school students and instead giving them public transit cards to get to school. This change follows a state Supreme Court ruling that allows districts to replace bus service with alternative free transportation, such as public transit.Key Facts
- Woodland Hills School District will no longer provide yellow bus service to over 140 students at LIFE Male STEAM Academy charter school.
- Instead, students will receive Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus passes to travel to and from school.
- Pennsylvania law requires school districts to provide free transportation for most charter school students living in their boundaries.
- The state Supreme Court ruled that districts can end bus service for charter students if they provide free alternatives like public transit.
- Some districts, especially in cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, already use public transit for transporting students.
- School districts face rising costs and a shortage of bus drivers, which drives efforts to change transportation methods.
- Charter school advocates worry that public transit is less safe and reliable in rural and suburban areas and could pressure families to avoid charter schools.
- Pennsylvania reimburses around half of the transportation costs for school districts that provide student transport.
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