Distance for school bus eligibility reduced

The province is reducing the distance for school bus eligibility.

The Department of Education says students and pre-primary children who attend an elementary school and live at least 1.6 kilometres away will now be eligible for busing.

When it comes to junior and senior high school students, those who live at least 2.4 kilometres away can take the bus.

The previous distance criteria were 2.4 kilometres for elementary schools and 3.6 kilometres for secondary students.

The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development says the change is a result of input from a November 2018 online school bus consultation survey.

“After consulting with school communities throughout Halifax Regional Municipality, we have made substantial changes to provide safe and reliable transportation for our students and school communities,” said Zach Churchill in a news release.

“While families and students outside HRM are quite satisfied with existing bus services, it is clear from conversations with families and the education community that changes were necessary to improve how we help students get to school.”

The department says most regional centres and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial are already operating at or below the new criteria.

In September, all eligible pre-primary children will also have access to a school bus.

The province also plans to address communication plans between service providers and families and launch a new review process when families don't agree with a transportation decision.

The changes are included in a new student transportation policy, which comes into effect this fall.

Families can contact their regional centre for education or the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial to determine bus eligibility.