Recently, the Alberta government announced changes to funding for school divisions for school bus transportation. Effective September 1, 2024, the eligibility distance for student transportation is being reduced to 1 kilometre for Grade 1 to 6 students and 2 kilometres for Grade 7 to 12 students, measured by using the shortest driving route.
We will begin implementing these new distances, including walkways, for the 2023-2024 school year, based on an application process. All parents/guardians whose children are currently eligible for bussing, and those who will be eligible next year, are asked to submit their application forms by June 15, 2023, so that we have time to effectively plan for the number of buses and the routes needed for the upcoming school year.
Newly Eligible Students
Parents/guardians whose children live between 1 km to 2.4 km (Kindergarten to Grade 6), and those who live between 2 km to 2.4 km (Grades 7 to 12) from their designated schools and want to ride a school bus must submit their application forms by June 15, 2023, in order to access transportation for the 2023-2024 year.
Those who submit their applications prior to June 15 will receive first priority, provided that there are enough registrations for an additional bus to be viable. Applications received after June 15, 2023, may result in long wait times for students to access a school bus in the fall.
Ineligible Students and School of Choice
Parents/guardians whose children live less than the distances noted above, and those whose children are attending a School of Choice – with the exception of Covenant Christian School and STAR Catholic students – and would like to request school bus transportation, please contact Transportation Services at transportation@blackgold.ca or call 780.955.6025.
Parents/guardians of students attending Covenant Christian School, please submit your registration form by June 15, 2023. If you do not see a registration form on your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, please contact Transportation Services at transportation@blackgold.ca or call 780.955.6025.
Applying for Bussing
All students who ride a Black Gold School Division bus must apply for busing yearly and require a bus pass. This includes Eligible, Ineligible, and School of Choice students (School of Choice students will be added in mid-September where there is availability. School of Choice bussing is not available in all circumstances).
TRANSPORTATION REGISTRATION STARTS TODAY! To apply for your child’s transportation, please go to: www.blackgold.ca/schools/transportation/apply.
After successful completion of the applications, bus passes will be mailed out to the Kindergarten to Grade 3 students. Passes for Grades 4 to 12 students can be picked up at their respective schools during the first week of school. Please note that there is a one week wait for bus passes.