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The Role of School-Based Transportation in School Choice: Evidence from Detroit

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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
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: The Role of School-Based Transportation in School Choice: Evidence from Detroit
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jeremy+Singer%22">Jeremy Singer</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2666-2972">0000-0002-2666-2972</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sarah+Winchell+Lenhoff%22">Sarah Winchell Lenhoff</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1025-8219">0000-0003-1025-8219</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Evaluation+and+Policy+Analysis%22"><i>Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis</i></searchLink>. 2026 48(2):734-753.
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  Data: 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
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  Data: 20
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  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Choice%22">School Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Transportation%22">Student Transportation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Buses%22">School Buses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Eligibility%22">Eligibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neighborhoods%22">Neighborhoods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Safety%22">Safety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Proximity%22">Proximity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motor+Vehicles%22">Motor Vehicles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ownership%22">Ownership</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Michigan+%28Detroit%29%22">Michigan (Detroit)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.3102/01623737251362840
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  Data: 0162-3737<br />1935-1062
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: 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.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1505839
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1505839
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3102/01623737251362840
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 734
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Transportation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Buses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kindergarten
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Eligibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Neighborhoods
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      – SubjectFull: Safety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Proximity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motor Vehicles
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      – SubjectFull: Ownership
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      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Michigan (Detroit)
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      – TitleFull: The Role of School-Based Transportation in School Choice: Evidence from Detroit
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              Y: 2026
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