ERIC Number: ED597970
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Jan-30
Pages: 9
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
DPS Transportation Policies to Match Its School Choice Policy
Samelson, Matt
Donnell-Kay Foundation
Under the current Denver Public Schools (DPS) transportation policy, students are eligible for transportation if they attend their designated neighborhood school and live a specified distance from that school -- more than 1 mile away for elementary school, 2.5 miles for middle schools, and 3.5 miles for high school. A multitude of exceptions exist where transportation is provided: students with special needs, shared enrollment zones, and magnet programs. But even then, only one-third of students have DPS transportation. The antiquated transportation policy does not match the district's school choice program. DPS is frequently held up as a national example for its school choice process. The district encourages families and students to exercise school choice. But here is the catch: by and large, as soon as students exercise choice, they do not have district transportation. And if a student does not own a vehicle, or her parent or guardian can not drop her off at school or he cannot afford to buy a Regional Transportation District (RTD) pass, then school choice without transportation is not a choice at all. This paper examines how the DPS board and staff could undertake several actions to enhance its transportation offerings and align its transportation policy with its school choice policy by: (1) Changing the DPS Board transportation policy for high school students; (2) Examining the efficiencies of the current DPS transportation offerings; (3) Improving Success Express ridership through a community-led process; and (4) Asking the community to approve a transportation mill levy override.
Descriptors: Public Schools, School Districts, School Choice, Student Transportation, School Policy, Access to Education, Low Income Students, High School Students, Bus Transportation, Efficiency, Community Involvement
Donnell-Kay Foundation. 730 17th Street Suite 950, Denver, CO 80202. Tel: 720-932-1544; Fax: 303-534-5785; Web site: http://www.dkfoundation.org
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Donnell-Kay Foundation
Identifiers - Location: Colorado (Denver)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A