School Choice and Childrens School Commuting

摘要

Some school districts allow parents to choose which school their child attends, a policy known as school choice. We study the impact of school choice on school transportation behavior. To do this, we examine the extent to which children's commute mode and parental attitudes toward school selection and school travel differ by magnet versus neighborhood schools and by race. We conducted a survey of elementary-school parents to assess how children travel to school and identify underlying parental attitudes. Compared to national data, our sample of K-6 students had fewer children walking or biking to school and more students riding the bus rather than using a private automobile. Transportation attitudes and actions differ by school type and race. For example, compared to white parents, non-white parents are more concerned about availability and safety of school buses, and also more likely to use school buses. This paper highlights the importance of school district policy on school transportation, mode choice, and the ability of students to walk or bike to school.