PUBLISHER’S CORNER
Are School Buses Really an Extension of the Classroom?
Written by Tony Corpin |
tony@stnonline.com T
he concept of school buses being an extension of the classroom is a perspective that some school administrators and educators support and others don’t. Why should school transportation get
involved at all in the educational process? Is the school bus an environment where learning could take place? Considering school buses as an extension of the class-
room helps ensure a continuous and holistic approach to education. It emphasizes that learning is not confined to the school building and can take place in various settings, including the school bus. It all comes down to advocating for student success. As we know, the primary purpose of school buses is to transport students to and from school safely. Industry advocates of this idea argue that the time spent on the school bus can be utilized to enhance the overall educa- tional experience. The technology exists to expand learning via access to
onboard Wi-Fi on school buses, but will students utilize this time to learn or use it as a social setting to interact with their peers? It depends on many factors, so there isn’t a clear-cut answer.
School buses can be seen as an extension of the learning environment, providing opportunities for edu- cational activities. For example, this time could be used to reinforce lessons on software using a mobile device like a laptop or tablet, discussing educational topics with peers, or engaging with other students in educational games while on the bus. Student ride times can also play a big factor as the amount of time kids spend on school buses can vary. It makes logical sense to give students the opportunity to use this time to be productive by accessing educational materials, engaging in reading assignments, or discus- sions related to the curriculum that can be integrated into the bus ride. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the inconsisten-
cies of broadband access, reach and the lack of internet connection in rural areas and low-income communities. The American Rescue Plan established the Emergency Connectivity Fund in 2021 to support the purchase of Wi-Fi hotspots for school buses. It provided $7.17 billion in funding across three application periods. (An addi- tional $450,000 was announced last month.) Some schools took advantage of this funding program to outfit school buses with Wi-Fi. A major reason others
50 School Transportation News • JANUARY 2024
didn’t was a lack of sustained, long-term funding to sup- port the technology. That changed in October, when the Federal Communications Commission approved E-Rate funding for school bus Wi-Fi hotspots. The Learning Without Limits initiative removes the most common objection school transportation operators had regarding this technology by reducing the need for additional school district funding. School districts that own, lease, or contract their buses are eligible to apply for funding. “It is a critical piece of the educational portfolio that
every student has Wi-Fi to access learning materials on the school bus. Part of the job of a school is to prepare our students for the future. Allowing self-study is critical to stu- dent success, regardless of if it’s a 15-minute or 50-minute ride, as learning everyday can compound over a lifetime,” said Lea Bogle, president and CEO of Premier Wireless. “We are long past due to offer students access to an immersive onboard learning environment on the school bus.” FCC said it is focused on ensuring that funded equip-
ment and services on school buses are used primarily for educational purposes and are otherwise consistent with E-Rate rules. Mobile broadband connectivity for school buses is eligible as a Category One service and includes the equipment (antennas, routers, modems) as well as associ- ated installation services, software and data service fees. At the TSD Conference in November, I moderated a panel discussion about technology trends with transpor- tation directors Arby Creach from the School District of Osceola County in Florida, Ryan Dillingham from Knox County Schools in Tennessee, Cody Cox from Cleveland ISD in Texas, and Tom Graves of Premier Wireless. The topic of E-Rate funding and school bus Wi-Fi was a main discussion point. The panelists all expressed interest and excitement about Learning Without Limits. The opportunity, technology and funding are all
available to school transportation operations nation- wide in 2024 and beyond to finally put the question to rest of school buses truly being an extension of the classroom. Now it is your job to turn this into a reality and help empower student success on your school buses for your kids. ●
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