| Title: |
The Role of School-Based Transportation in School Choice: Evidence from Detroit |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Jeremy Singer (ORCID 0000-0002-2666-2972); Sarah Winchell Lenhoff (ORCID 0000-0003-1025-8219) |
| Source: |
Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. 2026 48(2):734-753. |
| Availability: |
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
20 |
| Publication Date: |
2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: |
Institute of Education Sciences (ED) |
| Contract Number: |
R305C180025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education |
| Descriptors: |
School Choice; Student Transportation; School Buses; Kindergarten; Eligibility; Neighborhoods; Safety; Proximity; Motor Vehicles; Ownership; Student Characteristics |
| Geographic Terms: |
Michigan (Detroit) |
| DOI: |
10.3102/01623737251362840 |
| ISSN: |
0162-3737; 1935-1062 |
| Abstract: |
In school choice systems, many families face geographic constraints. Yet, there is limited evidence on the association between school-based transportation and students' school choice, especially in fragmented transportation contexts. Using unique data on Detroit kindergarten students' eligibility and access to school-based transportation, we find that students with access to a bus at a school--either a traditional or shuttle-style bus--were 4 to 5 percentage points more likely to enroll in that school. The association was greater for traditional buses in higher-crime neighborhoods and for shuttle-style buses for farther-away choices. We did not find that this association differed by block-group-level household car ownership. Our findings suggest that school-based transportation may modestly increase school choice access, depending on policy design and contextual factors. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| IES Funded: |
Yes |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1505839 |
| Database: |
ERIC |