Edmonton school bus fees to increase by 40 per cent in September

Starting in September, Edmonton Public Schools and Edmonton Catholic Schools will increase yellow bus transportation fees by 40 per cent. The monthly fee per student will rise from $50 to $70.

In Alberta, eligibility for bus services is based on distance: students in kindergarten to Grade 6 must live at least 1.6 kilometres from their school, while students in Grades 7-12 must live at least two kilometres away. For Edmonton Public Schools, fees are projected to rise again to $90 per month for the 2027-28 school year.

The Edmonton Catholic School Board reported that yellow bus operating costs have increased by 52 per cent over the last five years, while government funding has only grown by 30 per cent. Trustees noted that the decision to raise fees was made to avoid diverting funds from classroom budgets. The board expects to re-evaluate its fee schedule this fall.