Q&A
Clarification on public transportation eligibility for young students
2:07:45
·
42 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph seeks clarification on reports of incentives for 3rd-grade students to use public transportation instead of school buses. DOE officials explain that there is no pilot program, but rather existing eligibility guidelines based on grade and distance from school.
- Eligibility for public transportation changes at 3rd grade depending on distance from school
- This is not a new pilot program but part of existing transportation guidelines
- The change in eligibility at 3rd grade may have been misinterpreted as a new initiative
Rita Joseph
2:07:45
Abhinney, we report that there's an incentive to make children as young as 3rd graders start using public transportation instead of using the school buses.
2:07:55
Can you verify that first?
John Benson
2:08:01
I'm not sure I understand the question.
Rita Joseph
2:08:03
Okay.
2:08:04
There's a a pilot to train 3rd grade is to start taking public transportation rather than riding the school bus.
2:08:11
Is that something that's in the pipeline?
John Benson
2:08:14
We're not involved with any pilot to change eligibility.
2:08:17
It might be just the grade and distance that I believe does change at 3rd grade depending on the distance a child lives from school.
2:08:23
That might be part of what you're talking about, but it's not a pilot.
2:08:26
It's it's existing eligibility guidelines.
Rita Joseph
2:08:28
It's already existing.
