Riding the Yellow School Bus: Equity in bus transportation across districts, schools, and students

Abstract

While the yellow school bus is emblematic of American education, there is variation in bus service across the country. Millions of students rely on the bus, making transportation an essential part of a student’s educational experience. Thus, equity in transportation access is a key component of educational equity. Using national district-level data and New York City student-level data, we examine equity in transportation finance and bus provision. Our findings indicate significant racial and ethnic disparities, both nationally and in NYC. These results may help schools and districts design bus services to level the playing field and enhance student outcomes.