Transportation services for certain school districts

This bill allows the school districts in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers to provide transportation for students living half a mile or more from school if safety concerns require it. Districts must get board approval and commissioner permission to offer this service, which is limited to safety-related trips within a 15-mile radius and must be provided equally to all eligible students. Transportation costs under this program count toward state aid calculations, and districts must report on program costs, benefits, and impacts on attendance and academic performance by September 15, 2028. The law directly affects students in those four city districts who qualify based on safety and distance.