Dayton Public Schools Sue State Over Student Busing Ban
The Dayton Public School District (DPS) is taking the State of Ohio to court after new budget rules blocked the district from purchasing RTA bus passes for high school students.
The change, backed by some state legislators, including local Rep. Phil Plummer, was included in Ohio’s budget earlier this summer. While the amendment initially applied to the eight largest counties, lawmakers later narrowed it to affect only Montgomery County, home to DPS.
Supporters of the change cited safety concerns over students transferring at downtown bus hubs. But critics say the law went into effect immediately without giving the district time to adjust, forcing students to find other means of transport or pay $60 per month for a pass.
In its complaint, DPS calls the change “arbitrary, unreasonable, and discriminatory,” arguing it violates Ohio’s Uniformity Clause, the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, and students’ right to travel within the state. The district is seeking an injunction so it can continue working with RTA to provide transportation.
This policy shift violates children’s rights by creating transportation barriers that could block access to education, applying rules unfairly to one county’s students, and removing a safe, structured travel option without providing alternatives. Every child deserves equal, safe access to the classroom.
