Walking school bus drives attendance rates up at Fern, Kalihi, Ka'ala Elementaries

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Every morning Principal Glen Miyasato walks from Fern Elementary School to the lobby of a nearby apartment complex. He arrives there at 6:55 a.m. and waits for students as they head down from their apartments. At 7:18 a.m., Miyasato leads the group of students on the three-fourths mile walk back to campus. They arrive at campus at 7:35 a.m. and the students have breakfast together in the cafeteria before classes start at 8 a.m.

This concept is known as a walking school bus, or simply, a group of students who walk to school together with an adult chaperone. The walking school bus at Fern Elementary, which started over a decade ago, "picks up" 40 to 60 students every morning, Miyasato said. Since the pandemic, daily average attendance has increased to about 95%, he added.

Inspired by Principal Miyasato, Principal John Hamilton of neighboring Kalihi Elementary School also launched a walking school bus this year. When it first started, he said, they only had "a handful" of students. Now, he walks with about 20 students every morning. He noted that average daily attendance has increased, and the total number of tardies has decreased.

"I look forward to seeing the students and their parents every morning and feel that our school-home relationship has increased tremendously since starting this initiative," Hamilton said.

At Ka'ala Elementary School, staff worked with the Hawai'i Department of Transportation last school year to address absenteeism and safety concerns by creating a safe walking route to campus. Staff first looked at registration and attendance data, which showed that most students lived on or near Ohai Street in Wahiawā. The area presented challenges because it falls outside of the distance requirements to be eligible for bus services and lacks transportation alternatives.

The area is also a high traffic zone, with speeding vehicles, trash and bulky items blocking the sidewalks, and homelessness, making it unsafe for children to walk alone. Through the Public School of Hawai'i Foundation's Good Idea Grant program, the school purchased safety equipment including vests, cones and walkie talkies.

"It provides parents with peace of mind knowing that their children are supervised and accompanied on their way to school," said Ka'ala Elementary counselor Marisa Toyooka. "Students are benefiting from strengthening social relationships, building healthy habits, and becoming workforce-ready by getting to school on time every day and understanding the importance of attendance."

The Safe Routes To School national partnership has provided a guide for those interested in starting a walking school bus at a school.