The following list of recommendations has been identified by MHC members to address the region’s education challenges.
- Increase outreach to education decision makers to reinforce the importance of transit.
While the value of public transit has been long recognized in connecting families to quality jobs, there has been less dialogue regarding its role in linking families to quality education opportunities from preschool to post-secondary education.
- Encourage brick-and-mortar investments in early childhood centers and K-12 schools to locate near transit lines.
School districts, government and foundations should develop incentives to encourage developers to site new education-oriented facilities near transit. Cross-sector, joint developments, where partners plan, site, design or build facilities should also be explored.
- Prioritize improving school performance for schools located within one-half mile of transit.
Since low-income students are more likely to rely on transit to get to school, state agencies and local school districts could consider focusing more resources to increase performance for schools located close to stations, increasing quality choice options for all students.
- Create intergovernmental relationships between school districts to plan for highly-mobile, low-income students.
School districts should seek to better understand student mobility and leverage transit to allow for cross-district student commutes.
- Provide last-mile connections between schools and transit stations.
A number of the region’s high-quality schools are located outside of walking distance to affordable housing, but could be accessed if last-mile connections are enhanced to connect transit-reliant students to schools.
