TRANSPORTATION: RTD OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1
OBJECTIVE FOR TODAY 1. Understand current student transportation services, and present recommendations for expanding High School access immediately utilizing funds freed up with RTD’s new Youth Pass creation. 2. Discuss potential longer-term options for expanding access for FRL students who exercise school choice. 3. Seek BoE approval on walk zone change. GOAL #1 Great Schools in Every Neighborhood 2
DPS TRANSPORTATION: CURRENT STATE
CURRENT STATE OF TRANSPORTATION P RACTICE P OLICY Traditional & Shuttle A student is entitled to transportation if • 30k she lives farther than the walk radius eligible (1 mi ES, 2.5 mi MS, 3.5 mi HS) students • $20M AND budget RTD pass (HS only) • Attends boundary/zone school • Has a need to attend TNLI zone school or regional Newcomer center • 2,758 • Attends select magnet schools eligible • Is homeless or in foster care and students • $1.2M attend a non-boundary school for budget enrollment continuity 3 rd party provider OR • • 500 Special education students eligible receive curb to curb service if students transportation is a related service • $6M on their IEP budget • Any student may apply to ride an existing route as an “exception” 4 GOAL #1 Great Schools in Every Neighborhood
IMPROVED ACCESS TO EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. Background - In May 2016, DPS board pledged to work with community stakeholders in a two-year effort focused on increasing access and educational opportunities for high school students. - $400K of 2016 Mill Levy proposal was set aside to support the expansion of the RTD pass program bringing the total investment to $1.2M. - DPS collaborates with City of Denver, Donnell Kay Foundation and Together Colorado on potential options to expand RTD program for High School Students. - April 2018 DPS Board of Education announces Proclamation in support of Pass Program Working Group recommendations to the Regional Transportation District. - DPS was an active participant in the RTD Pass Working Group, which resulted in a 70% discount for youth passes creating incremental savings to expand pass program (annualized savings of approximately $367K to purchase the same number of monthly student passes as in the current programs). 5
DPS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CITY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS Goal: Use RTD “savings” to serve additional high school students DPS began partnering with Donnell Kay, Together Colorado and the Mayor’s office to explore DPS allocates adding RTD pass into My $400k to additional Denver Card transportation for RTD announces alternative schools; 70% discount for waits for outcome of RTD working group youth pass Transportation DPS explores reduced walk zone, DK/TG offers makes increased choice, partnerships with suggestions to recommend- CareerConnect, and transportation BOE ations to BOE for alternative schools Up to Fall Spring Fall Summer Fall Winter Winter Spring Summer Fall 2012 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 RTD convenes working group to overhaul pass Great Schools, DPS partners with Strengthening 2016 Mill Levy pricing strategy Thriving Together Colorado and Neighborhoods passes with Communities group other community Committee publishes $400k/year for RTD discussion concludes partners to launch the recommendations Success Express 6 Shuttles in FNE and NNE regions
DPS TRANSPORTATION: PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDING WALK ZONE CHANGE What are we trying to solve? Today DPS has the largest walk zone in the state for high school students. We are proposing to change Board policy to reduce the HS walk zone to 2.5 miles (aligned with most districts in the state) to improve access/increase eligibility for DPS high school students for district-funded transportation, while working within our current budget. This change will: − Increase opportunities for ~1,700 high school students in addition to students who already receive RTD passes to access public transportation to get to school, and for other uses. − Include a board-approved walk zone change, along with operational changes that address cost and feasibility. − Support recommendations made by interested community organizations. 8
The RTD Board approved a youth discount of 70% from the monthly pass price of $114 Cost for RTD Passes remaining for 2018-19 SY Current State = $49.00 RTD Fares Starting January 2019 (70% off of $114) Additional Students we Today’s Pass Cost # of Monthly New Pass Cost for Net Impact could serve for remainder of Passes for remaining SY* remaining SY* (savings) SY18-19 with savings Dept. of Transportation 2,758 $675,710 $471,618 ($204,092) 1,194 • Assumes new RTD Pass cost will be billed for January – May passes • RTD budget is $1.2M Cost for 2019-2020 SY Current State RTD Fares Starting January 2019 (70% off of $114) Additional # of Monthly Proposed Monthly Net Impact Students we would Budget Total Annual Cost* Passes Cost per Pass (savings) serve annually with savings Dept. of $1.2M 2,758 $34.20 $913,725 ($367,366) 1,108 Transportation • Model assumes passes for 9 months total annual cost + 2 weeks of ticket books @ $11.75 • Cost of ticket books are factored into the 2019-2020 student pricing. • Assumes 100% of students would require a pass. 9 Data as of October 3 rd , 2018
POLICY OPTIONS DISCUSSED AND ANALYZED Costs estimated for the 2019-20 school year A: Reduce walk radius B: Reduce walk radius C: Keep walk radius at D. Keep walk radius at to 3.0 for students who 3.5, & provide RTD 3.5, but provide passes to 2.5 for students who attend boundary, zone, passes to choice to FRL choice students attend boundary, zone, or magnet schools with students attending non- attending non- or magnet schools with current eligibility boundary and non- boundary and non- current eligibility magnet programs magnet programs Additional 1,673 Additional 633 Additional 6,309 Additional 3,320 Students Eligible Students Eligible Students Eligible Students Eligible 60+% FRL 59% FRL 59% FRL 100% FRL Annual Cost: $554,265 Annual Cost: Annual Cost: Annual Cost: $219,652 $2,090,172 $1,099,916 Net Cost: ($186,899) Net Savings: $147,714 Net Cost: ($1,722,806) Net Cost: ($732,550) Distance Considerations Choice & FRL Considerations 10
RECOMMENDED POLICY CHANGE Reduce walk radius to 2.5 for students who attend boundary, zone, or magnet schools – model assumes 100% utilization Additional A: students, 1,673 Goal: What are we trying to accomplish with this change? 60% FRL Annual Cost Reduce the walk by 1 mile, increasing transportation eligibility for another ~1,700 high school students $554,265 Create alignment between middle and high school transportation policies Net Cost: $186,899* Aligns with existing policies & equitable for distance among distance students must walk 60+% of students within the 2.5 to 3.5 walk are expected to be FRL, benefitting from this change Provides consistency among service offerings & school models i.e. 6-12 Benefits Supports community recommendations Increased student attendance and mobility, attendance and potential savings for schools Easy to administer and provides additional support to 25 high schools Additional funding required Does not specifically increase access for lower-income students Barriers Does not specifically support choice or students within zones GOAL #1 Great Schools in Every Neighborhood 11 *Note: cost expected to be covered via new “opt - in” process planned to be implemented in FY20
COMMUNITY PARTNER RECOMMENDATION #1 Update DPS Transportation Services for High School Students Provide passes for all costing the students living 2.5 1,673 district miles from boundary students $554,265 or magnet school with annually* eligible transportation: costing the Eliminate high school 9,392 district restriction that students attend students $3,111,570 boundary school: annually Option 2: Not currently financially feasible *Note: $187K net cost expected to be covered via new “opt - in” process planned to be implemented in FY20 GOAL #1 Great Schools in Every Neighborhood 12
POTENTIAL ROADMAP FOR FUTURE TRANSPORTATION CHANGES SY 2020-2021: Potential exploratory pilot for FRL families Fall 2019: participating in Choice with additional Study RTD pass savings realized from family opt-in August 2019: opt-in behaviors and resulting Introduction of Opt-in savings/costs process for RTD January 2019: eligible students as a mechanism to free-up Reduce the walk resources to fund distance to 2.5 miles walk zone cost deficit for High School Students, passes are issued to additional students 13
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