Check: Can I Ride a Bus?
Start Here to Determine Your Child's Eligibility
Click ➜ Can I Ride a Bus? to check your child’s transportation eligibility.
Eligibility is based on the shortest driving distance from your home to your designated school, calculated using city and county planning maps.
This may differ from distances shown in Google or Apple Maps.
Your child’s eligibility and registration form are based on the home address listed in PowerSchool.
Please ensure it's up to date:
• During the school year – contact your child’s school
• During summer – call 780-955-6025 and ask for the Data Team
Transportation Eligibility Changes and What You Need to Know
In March 2023, the Government of Alberta amended the School Transportation Regulation to change the eligible distance criteria from 2.4 kilometers for all students to 1.0 km for Kindergarten to Grade 6 students and 2.0 km for Grade 7 to 12 students. This change was to take effect on September 1, 2024, with an option to implement in the 2023-24 school year. To support as many students as possible, Black Gold School Division implemented these new eligible distances in the 2023-24 school year.
On December 16, 2024, Alberta Education announced that, due to feedback they had received from some school divisions who were facing challenges in implementing the new distance criteria, the distance criteria for Kindergarten to Grade 6 students would change from 1.0 kilometre to 1.6 kilometres, effective September 1, 2025. The distance criteria for Grade 7 to 12 students will remain at 2.0 kilometres. To ease the transition for school divisions that implemented the new distance criteria in September 2023, Alberta Education is providing one-year transition funding for the 2025-26 school year to these school divisions to continue to implement the 1.0 kilometre distance for Grade K-6 students.
Why Eligibility Is Changing
In March 2023, Alberta Education updated the distance requirements for funded transportation:
- Kindergarten–Grade 6: From 2.4 km to 1.0 km
- Grades 7–12: From 2.4 km to 2.0 km
Black Gold implemented these changes in the 2023–2024 school year.
On December 16, 2024, Alberta Education revised the minimum distance for K–6 students to 1.6 km, effective September 1, 2025.
To support divisions like Black Gold that had already adopted the 1.0 km rule, one-year transition funding is being provided for the 2025–2026 school year only.
What This Means For Your Child
Kindergarten to Grade 6
1.6 km or more from your designated school
Eligibility: Eligible
Fee: Eligible student fee
Transportation: Guaranteed
Register by June 30:
✔️ First-day busing guaranteed
✔️ Early bird eligible fee applies
Register after June 30:
– Transportation is still guaranteed but may be delayed
– Regular eligible fee applies
Kindergarten to Grade 6
1.0 – 1.59 km from your designated school (2025–2026 only)
Eligibility: Transition year Eligible
Fee: Eligible student fee
Transportation: Only guaranteed if registered by June 30
Register by June 30:
✔️ First-day busing guaranteed
✔️ Early bird eligible fee applies
Register after June 30:
– Transportation not guaranteed
– Regular eligible fee applies
Kindergarten to Grade 6
Less than 1.0 km from your designated school
Eligibility: Ineligible
Fee: Ineligible student fee
Transportation: Only guaranteed if registered by June 30
Register by June 30:
✔️ First-day busing guaranteed
✔️ Early bird ineligible fee applies
Register after June 30:
– Transportation not guaranteed
– Regular ineligible fee applies
Note: Bus stops are not assigned for addresses closer than 850 metres to the school
Grade 7–12
2.0 km or more from your designated school
Eligibility: Eligible
Fee: Eligible student fee
Transportation: Guaranteed
Register by June 30:
✔️ First-day busing guaranteed
✔️ Early bird eligible fee applies
Register after June 30:
– Transportation is still guaranteed but may be delayed
– Regular eligible fee applies
Grade 7–12
Less than 2.0 km from your designated school
Eligibility: Ineligible
Fee: Ineligible student fee
Transportation: Only guaranteed if registered by June 30
Register by June 30:
✔️ First-day busing guaranteed
✔️ Early bird ineligible fee applies
Register after June 30:
– Transportation not guaranteed
– Regular ineligible fee applies
Note: Bus stops are not assigned for addresses closer than 850 metres to the school
Quick Reference Chart
Note: To view the corresponding fees related to eligibility, visit our Transportation Fees & Payment Information page.
Notes for School of Choice Students
Available only if all of the following apply:
Conditions:
✔️ Space is available on the route
✔️ The bus does not deviate from its approved route
✔️ The School of Choice is within the same community
Not Available:
– Between different communities (e.g., from one town or city to another)
– Parents must email [email protected] to request School of Choice transportation
Notes for STAR Catholic Students
Transportation is only available for rural students who live within the Leduc attendance boundary.
Eligibility: Varies by grade and school
Fee: School of Choice or Eligible fee, depending on your boundary area — please email to confirm
Siblings attending a Black Gold School: If you have at least three children, and one of them attends a Black Gold school, you may be able to receive a family rate and apply and pay in PowerSchool, please email [email protected] to inquire.
Transportation: Limited availability
Applies to:
✔️ Rural Grade 7–8 attending Father Leduc Catholic School
✔️ Rural Grades K–6 attending École Notre Dame School
Not Available for:
– Grades K–6 attending Father Leduc Catholic School
– Any students requesting busing to/from Beaumont or within the City of Leduc
(Contact STAR Catholic Transportation at 780-986-2500)
To register:
✔️ Register directly with Black Gold Schools Transportation Department HERE.
✔️ Registration is required each school year
To pay:
✔️ Fees must be paid in person and in full before bus passes are issued
✔️ Email [email protected] to arrange payment and collect passes
Notes for New Humble Community School Students
Eligibility: Only students living within the Calmar attendance boundary
Fee: Eligible Student Fee paid directly to New Humble Community School
Siblings attending a Black Gold School: If you have at least three children, and one of them attends a Black Gold school, you may be able to receive a family rate and apply and pay in PowerSchool, please email [email protected] to inquire.
Transportation: Available for eligible students only living with the Calmar designated boundary.
To register:
✔️ Register directly with Black Gold Schools Transportation Department HERE.
✔️ Registration is required each school year
To pay:
✔️ In most cases, fees must be paid directly to New Humble Community School before bus passes are issued
Students Residing in Parkland County Attending School in Devon
Please contact Parkland School Division Transportation Department at (780) 963-8452.
Have questions? Start with our FAQs — it’s the quickest way to find answers!
🕒 Hours: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM; 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM, Mon-Fri
🕒 Summer Hours from July 7 to August 15: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM; 12:45 PM – 4:30 PM, closed on Fridays.
Need further assistance or have an urgent concern? Visit our Contact Us! page for the best way to reach the Transportation team.