Hundreds of Lakewood families are entering the new school year without district-funded bus service after the Board of Education quietly updated its transportation eligibility policy — and the change hinges on whether a child turns 5 before or after a single date on the calendar.
Under the revised guidelines for the 2026–2027 school year, students must be 5 years old by September 30 to qualify for Board-funded transportation. The previous policy was more permissive, allowing children who turned 5 later in the calendar year to still receive busing.
Who is affectedChildren born between October 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 who are entering the upcoming school year will no longer be eligible for district-funded transportation under the new rule.
The Board says the change brings Lakewood in line with policies used in neighboring townships, framing it as a standardization measure rather than a budget cut. However, for the families caught in the transition window, the practical impact is immediate: their children’s bus service disappears starting this fall.
Affected parents have already begun receiving email notifications from the district outlining the change and suggesting possible next steps. The district is directing families to review their options through the transportation portal at LakewoodSTA.org, where alternative arrangements may be listed.
The update raises broader questions about how last-minute policy changes are communicated to families — especially those with young children who rely on busing as a non-negotiable logistical need. For now, parents of children born in the October–December 2021 window are being urged to act quickly before the school year begins.
