Typically, pupil transportation is funded based on the previous year’s ridership (RCW 28A.160.190). But with schools closed in Washington earlier this year—and many continuing with remote learning this fall—students haven’t been riding the bus.

Yesterday, Gov. Inslee issued a proclamation that allows school districts to use their transportation funding allocations to pay bus drivers to deliver learning materials, meals, and technology solutions to students during this time of remote learning. Allocations may also now be used to transport students “to and from learning centers or other public or private agencies where educational and support services are provided.”

The proclamation also requires districts to track how and when school buses and drivers are used to make these deliveries. (Potentially, this could help the state recover unused transportation funding down the road.)

As I noted a few weeks ago, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal told district superintendents that they would get their full transportation funding allocations through January 2021. However, beginning in February, payments will be made based on fall and winter ridership. Thus, “For many districts that will deliver instruction fully remote this fall, that would result in substantially lower payments or even no payments beginning in February.” (The governor’s proclamation doesn’t specify that the newly allowed uses will be taken into account when determining future transportation allocations.)

Pupil transportation is part of basic education, and basic education is one of the more difficult state budget items to cut. But it’s conceivable that funding could be cut where services aren’t being delivered. Even with the newly allowed uses of transportation dollars, it’s unlikely districts will be using as much transportation funding as they do in normal times.

Indeed, in announcing the proclamation, the governor’s office wrote, “In circumstances where use of the Shared Work program is possible, the governor encourages school districts to make use of that program to help avoid layoffs.” (Kriss wrote about Washington’s SharedWork program earlier this week.)