Register For School Bus Services From Howard County Public School System Before June 1

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Families whose children are eligible for bus transportation from the Howard County Public School System must register through HCPSS Connect Synergy for the 2023-2024 school year by June 1.

The Howard County Public School System has 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. A national driver shortage has contributed to the need to expand walk zones.

"While there have been calls to revert back to an older version of the (transportation) policy, doing so would be creating false expectations for families and students for bus services, as we do not believe that our school system or our contractors will be able to staff and support the additional routes necessary," the school district stated.