Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, Anne Arundel County public school students that need school bus transportation to and from school will need to sign up for the service as the school system seeks to improve efficiency.

According to a recent Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) press release, “The program is being developed in response to a unanimous motion passed by the Board in August asking Dr. Arlotto and staff to examine the potential of an opt-in bus registration program to help increase efficiency in student transportation across the school system.”

The new policy also comes after Anne Arundel County and statewide school systems have struggled to provide regular, reliable service amid the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing staffing challenges.

School bus transportation eligibility under the new system would be determined by a student’s home address in accordance with Board of Education policies EA and EAA and administrative regulations EA-RA and EAA-RA. This means that in order to be eligible for school bus service, pre-K and kindergarten students must live at least a half-mile away from school, elementary school students at least one mile, and middle and high school students at least a mile and a half away from the school they attend.

Notably, homeless students and students whose Individualized Education Plan requires transportation would continue to receive it without having to register for the program.

County Superintendent George Arlotto will present details on the change at the Board of Education’s next meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. The board asked Arlotto to explore such a program last August.

Read the full AACPS press release.

Access the full April 6 Anne Arundel County School Board agenda.