Districts must provide busing to nonpublic students
WEST CHESTER » Pennsylvania school districts will be required to provide transportation for charter and non-public school students regardless of whether those districts are utilizing a remote or hybrid education model in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to updated guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th, of West Whiteland, who serves as minority chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said he was pleased that Education Department clarified this position and acted in accordance with state statutory requirements.
“For many students in Chester County and across the Commonwealth, today was the first day of school. I know a lot of parents of brick-and-mortar charter, non-public, private, religious, and parochial schools were concerned about transportation and rightfully so,” he said. “Under to
day’s guidance, transportation and related reimbursement are required for charter and non-public students, regardless of whether a district is providing transportation for its own (public) students.”
Prior to Tuesday’s development, guidance on the Education Department’s website indicated that decisions on transportation for such students and reimbursement of transportation costs would be left up to local school districts and school boards and made on a district-by-district basis.
Dinniman said he has been in discussions and regular correspondence on this issue with officials from the Pennsylvania School Bus Association, including partners at Krapf Bus Companies and Wolfington Body Company.
“I’m glad that PDE clarified its stance and made a decision that is in line with the school code. For parents and families of all students, including those attending in-person classes in charter and nonpublic schools, the uncertainty of the pandemic coupled with the start of the school year is stressful enough,” he said. “I hope this provides some relief and assurance during an unprecedented situation.”
Dinniman added that school districts are also required to provide transportation for special education students attending in-person classes. In addition, he said that only a few districts in Chester County were not providing transportation for students attending inperson career, technical and vocational school classes, but he hoped that they would resume doing so in light of the updated guidance.