Parents decry school transit plan

Philadelphia school officials last evening heard a small but passionate group of parents and education advocates speak in near unified opposition to proposed policy changes that could result in upward of 13,500 students losing free transportation service this fall.

With an eye toward helping to reduce a budget deficit, school district officials are mulling three proposals, each of which would result in fewer free SEPTA TransPasses being given to seventh- through 12th-graders who attend public, charter and nonpublic schools.

One proposal would extend from 1.5 miles or more to 2 miles or more the distance that students must live from school to be eligible for free transportation. An estimated 7,000 students would lose service under this proposal.

Another proposal would require that students maintain 85 percent attendance to be eligible. An estimated 6,500 students would lose service under this proposal.

The third option would be ...