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William Penn School District first reading clarifies free transportation for charter students; SEPTA passes may be used
Summary
At an April 9 Policy Committee meeting, Doctor Harris presented a first reading of Policy 810 clarifying that charter school students must receive free transportation but the district may provide alternate modes (for example, SEPTA key cards) rather than identical bus service. Board members sought assurances about accessibility and destination coverage.
Doctor Harris presented the first reading of Policy 810 at the William Penn School District Policy Committee meeting on April 9, saying the revision clarifies that when the district provides transportation to charter school students it must be free but “the mode of transportation does not need to be identical to the mode of transportation being provided for students attending our in district schools.”
The clarification responds to state regulations and, Harris said, reflects current practices. Harris added his understanding from Chief Deans that the revision “would reflect current practices already in place.”
Board members pressed for specifics about acceptable alternative modes. A board member asked whether the district could provide a SEPTA key card instead of bus service; Harris said yes, explaining that the district “can make the decision to provide whatever level, whatever means of transportation that we would like to provide that we believe is in the best interest of the district.” He reiterated that the district’s obligation is to provide a zero-cost means of transportation to the student’s school and that staff work with families to ensure the chosen mode is accessible and does not create a barrier.
Harris told the committee the district is not required to map transit routes or guarantee identical routing when public-transit passes are used; instead, the district must ensure the alternative enables the student to reach the school destination at no cost. The presentation cited input from Chief Deans indicating the policy change aligns district practice with state rules.
The item was presented as a first reading; no vote was taken. The Policy Committee noted the clarification and did not record additional revisions at the meeting. The committee’s next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2026.
