Over the past year, in a bipartisan manner, Rep. John Schlegel and I have spearheaded a work group with school transportation contractors, statewide associations representing school business, state department officials and school district transportation directors from across the commonwealth with the common goal to modernize Pennsylvania’s school transportation laws.
In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation that will update and streamline administrative requirements and collect necessary data in order to modernize our student transportation laws.

This legislation would do the following:

• Allow for electronic tracking software or GPS systems for less burdensome and more accurate reporting of mileage.
• Adjust the transportation index to a 2025 baseline.
• Require schools to collect and report data regarding special transportation services, homeless students and transportation by school districts for private, nonpublic and charter students.
• Requiring House Education Committee to revisit school transportation in one year to review the above data and assess further changes for the school transportation law and school transportation funding formula.
• Establish a Student Transportation Funding Program to allow school districts to apply for funding to help with the costs associated with special transportation.

There is a lot of work to be done to bring our school transportation laws into the 21st century and this bill is an excellent first step towards that goal.  Please join us in sponsoring this important legislation.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1518 (Apr 28, 2025): P.L.30, No.14
Printer's No. 1647 (May 07, 2025): P.L.30, No.14