Nicholas L. M. Allen
Jun 11, 2025
Fewer younger students in the Pass will qualify for bussing under updated Alberta Education policy
Alberta Education has announced updated school transportation eligibility requirements that will take effect for the 2025–2026 school year, resulting in fewer Kindergarten to Grade 6 students qualifying for school bussing services.
Starting in September 2025, only students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 who live 1.6 kilometres or more from their designated schools will be eligible for transportation. This marks a significant increase from the previous threshold of one kilometre, a change that will impact many families who currently rely on bussing for younger children.
The eligibility requirement for students in Grades 7 to 12 will remain unchanged at two kilometres.
As a result of the policy change, children currently receiving bussing who live between 1.0 and 1.59 kilometres from their designated schools will lose access to transportation services starting next school year. Parents or guardians of these students will be responsible for arranging alternate transportation.
According to Alberta Education, driving distances are calculated using industry-standard routing software. This software measures the shortest driving route from the student’s home address to their designated school, based on the official address on file with the school authority. The department emphasized that distances measured using online map tools such as Google Maps, GPS apps or third-party services will not be accepted.
The policy change is part of the provincial government’s broader review of school transportation, aimed at streamlining services and addressing rising operational costs. School divisions across Alberta are expected to implement the updated eligibility criteria in the coming months.
Families impacted by the new distance guidelines are expected to receive official notification by email on or before June 6, according to Livingstone Range School Division. Affected households are advised to check their inboxes and ensure their contact information is up to date with their local school.
For more information about eligibility, routing, or to review transportation policies, parents and guardians are encouraged to visit www.lrsd.ca/transportation.
