Courtesy Busing

Approved: 2004

Reaffirmed: 2012; 2018

WHEREAS, Since its founding, the NJPTA has been concerned with the safety of children and youth and continues to work for a safe environment in school and community; and

WHEREAS, NJPTA is concerned that land development and multi-lane highways, many without sidewalks, are a student’s only route to school; and

WHEREAS, The safety of children cannot be measured in miles or dollars; and

WHEREAS, The limit of providing busing for elementary students living a minimum of two miles and high school students living 2.5 miles from the school does not account for hazardous roads and busy intersections; and therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the NJPTA, its County Councils, and local PTAs provide information to their members as to the current requirements for courtesy busing; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the NJPTA encourages its members to respond if courtesy busing is to be discontinued; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the NJPTA support regulations or legislation that establish state funding for courtesy busing; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the NJPTA request that the appropriate department gives high priority to projects that will remedy conditions that cause routes to be hazardous.

Rationale - It is important that students are provided the safest route possible when going to school and courtesy busing is the solution in many cases.