35 percent of Grand Forks Public Schools students not taking the bus to school this year compared to last year

The district says that 1,041 students took the bus regularly in August 2025, but now there are only 667 on the bus this school year. Parents are paying $525 each school year for their children to ride the bus to school. This means that it is $1.50 for each bus trip and $3 per day if the student takes the bus to and from school.

The district had $1 per trip before the COVID-19 pandemic, but got rid of the fee when students went back to in person classes. The state provides up to $500,000 in transportation costs every year, which means the district has about 75 percent to pay out of its other funding sources.

The district does also receive federal money for transportation, but those funds are specifically for students who have disabilities and who require specialized bus services. This funding also applies for students who qualify because of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. There are also schools who are given federal money because they have students who qualify for a free or reduced lunch.

Federal law does require the district to provide transportation for free to students who have education plans that are individualized for them.

The Grand Forks School Board has approved an agreement with a local taxi service that will provide daily transportation for a single special needs student that will get them to a facility in another place in the state. This agreement will cost about $90,000 over the school year, but the state will reimburse the district costs that go over $60,000.

There are no state or federal laws that require school districts to provide free transportation, although  Grand Forks Public Schools is the only one out of the larger school districts in the state that does charge for transportation. Other school districts in Fargo, West Fargo, Minot and Bismarck do not charge for transportation.