Sam Oosterhoff, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, today announced that the Government of Ontario is moving forward with a review of the student transportation funding formula.

First announced in March 2019, the review responds to calls from student transportation partners (bus companies and school boards) to improve the funding formula to be more responsive to the changing needs and costs encountered by school boards. The review is also a follow-up to the Auditor General's 2015 value-for-money audit that recommended the government revisit the funding formula.

"Parents and taxpayers deserve the most reliable and effective bus service possible, where every tax dollar we invest is maximized to benefit Ontario's students," said Parliamentary Assistant Oosterhoff. "With student transportation costs projected to be over $1 billion this school year, it's critically important that we ensure value for money so we are better serving students in rural and urban communities."  

The ministry is establishing a Student Transportation Advisory Group that will meet with the Parliamentary Assistant and ministry staff over the coming months. Stakeholders and ministry officials will discuss the funding formula, as well as other topics, including consortia models and operations, and student transportation procurement. The government is approaching the review with three goals to guide decision-making: Equity; Fiscal responsibility and accountability; and  Evidence-based decision making.

"Every day, more than 830,000 students are transported back and forth from school safely, and on time, thanks to the terrific work of school bus drivers and the hard-working staff who support them," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. In August 2019, the province announced the continuation of the school bus driver retention program which provides funding incentives for school bus drivers that provide continuous service throughout the year.

source: media release, Ontario News