HCPSS High Schoolers Will Walk Up To 2 Miles, Preschoolers 1 Mile Under New Walk Zones

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Students may have to walk up to two miles to get to school this fall.

The Howard County Public School System on Tuesday shared new student walk zones for the upcoming school year. Known as "non-transportation areas," these zones increased for most all students.

High schoolers' walk zones are now two miles; middle schoolers' are 1.5 miles. Elementary school students' walk zones remain at 1 mile but prekindergarten walk zones are now 1 mile, also.

Exemptions will be made for students without "suitable walk routes," noted The Baltimore Sun.

In May, the school board voted unanimously to modify the student transportation policy to broaden the walk zones from students' houses to schools. Eligible families also have to register for bus service.

A national driver shortage has contributed to the need to expand walk zones. The Baltimore Sun reported there are 92 bus driver vacancies as of Wednesday, according to HCPSS spokesperson Brian Bassett.

School start times also will be staggered and changed for the upcoming school year, Patch previously reported.