More Howard County Students Can Ride Buses This Fall Under Revised Policy

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — School officials announced that revisions to the education board's policy regarding student transportation means more students will be able to ride the bus for the upcoming school year.

The updated policy takes effect July 1 and lessens the distances students will walk to school. Families can use the 2025-2026 Attendance Area Locator to verify their transportation status. But stop information will not be available until mid-August.

The new maximum distances students may walk to school are:

• Prekindergarten through Grade 5: 0.75 miles
• Grades 6–8: 1.0 mile
• Grades 9–12: 1.5 miles

School officials noted that these distances are calculated using transportation software and are measured from the residence property line to the property boundary of the school from the closest adjacent suitable pathway. In some circumstances, a walk distance could be greater as the policy allows for extended non-transportation (walk) areas no more than 0.1 miles for elementary or 0.15 miles for middle schools above the listed distances in order to complete streets/neighborhoods when appropriate.

School officials also noted that there could be minor adjustments to the boundary lines based on continuous review of walking paths that occur throughout the year. Schools will notify families of any additional changes.

In March 2023, the Howard County Public School System shared new student walk zones for the upcoming school year. Known as "non-transportation areas," these zones increased for most all students. High schoolers' walk zones were bumped up to two miles; middle schoolers' were 1.5 miles. Elementary school students' walk zones remained at 1 mile but prekindergarten walk zones increased to 1 mile, also, Patch reported previously.