Why Are School Buses Under Constant Threat of Budget Cuts? [Infographic]

With less than a month before schools resume across the country, many parents and students are facing the reality of budget cuts that could significantly affect the way children access schools. With over 20 states proposing or implementing budget cuts, schools are forced to cut services that many rely on every day, including school buses.

I’ve already covered the results of some of these school transportation budget cuts, which have included traffic jams significant enough to delay the start of classes and protests from parents. But, why are buses and other forms of school transportation such a common target for budget cuts?

Transportation to and from school is an essential part of the school systems, so it might seem that busing would be safe from the constant threat of cuts or even outright elimination. Yet every year schools across the country reduce the number of buses and routes for students.

Hannah Boys investigated the reason why school buses are such a common target of budget cuts as well as the effects these cuts have on schools and students. While it may make short-term financial sense, it seems clear that cutting transportation harms students.