The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, has announced the phasing out of the 1.6 kilometre rule to access school bus services in the K-12 school system throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, starting in the upcoming school year.
This change will be phased in beginning in September 2023 in areas where current existing school bus capacity permits, and will be in place for all areas where busing exists today for the 2024-2025 school year.
As a result of these changes, over 4,000 students that were not previously eligible will be able to access school bus transportation for the upcoming school year. Once fully implemented, any student who lives within 1.6 kilometres of a school that has bus services will be able to avail of school bus transportation.
The Provincial Government will continue to support a learning environment that removes barriers and focuses directly on students. This includes full integration of the English School District into government by December 31, 2023.
A list of schools where this change will take effect in 2023-24 is available in the backgrounder below.
Quotes
“We are continuing to modernize K-12 education in the province by providing foundational components like transportation. Removing the 1.6 kilometre rule ensures that Newfoundland and Labrador offers the best school transportation system in the country. I am pleased that our government is able to implement this improvement to further support students throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Our government is committed to ensuring that students have the tools they need to be successful in school. Safe and reliable transportation to and from school is a key part of accessing quality education, and our government will continue to support student success. This change will positively impact thousands of students and their families starting this upcoming school year.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education
“The ability to take a bus to school is an important element of accessible education. The elimination of the 1.6 kilometre busing policy marks the beginning of a positive change for those who wish to avail of busing services. I am pleased that where capacity allows, this change will be realized in the upcoming school year.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“This is a welcome improvement to the education system for all students in the province. We have had many conversations with government to discuss the importance of access to school transportation, and we are pleased that bus services will soon be available to all students in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Don Coombs
President
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils
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Learn more
K-12 Busing Policies and Guidelines
BACKGROUNDER
Schools Implementing the Transportation Change for September 2023
| School | Region | Grade Level |
| A. P. Low Primary | Labrador | K-3 |
| Acreman Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| All Hallows Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| Amalgamated Academy | Avalon | 4-9 |
| Anthony Paddon Elementary | Central | K-6 |
| Ascension Collegiate | Avalon | 10-12 |
| Baccalieu Collegiate | Avalon | 7-12 |
| Baltimore School Complex | Avalon | K-12 |
| Bay Roberts Primary | Avalon | K-3 |
| Bayview Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Beachy Cove Elementary | Avalon | K-4 |
| Belanger Memorial School | Western | K-12 |
| Bishop White School | Central | K-12 |
| Bonne Bay Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Brian Peckford Primary | Western | K-3 |
| Cabot Academy | Avalon | K-6 |
| Canon Richards High School | Western | K-12 |
| Cape St. Francis Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| Carbonear Academy | Avalon | K-8 |
| Carbonear Collegiate | Avalon | 9-12 |
| Catalina Elementary School | Central | K-8 |
| Centreville Academy | Central | K-9 |
| Christ the King School | Central | K-12 |
| Clarenville High School | Central | 10-12 |
| Clarenville Middle School | Central | 7-9 |
| Copper Ridge Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Cottrell’s Cove Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Cowan Heights Elementary | Avalon | K-7 |
| Crescent Collegiate | Avalon | 7-12 |
| Discovery Collegiate | Central | 7-12 |
| Donald C. Jamieson Academy | Central | K-7 |
| Dorset Collegiate | Western | 7-12 |
| Dunne Memorial Academy | Avalon | K-12 |
| E. A. Butler All Grade | Western | K-12 |
| Exploits Valley High | Western | 10-12 |
| Exploits Valley Intermediate | Western | 7-9 |
| Fatima Academy | Avalon | K-12 |
| Fogo Island Central Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Forest Park Primary | Western | K-3 |
| Fortune Bay Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Frank Roberts Junior High | Avalon | 7-9 |
| French Shore Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Grandy’s River Collegiate | Western | K-12 |
| Green Bay South Academy | Western | K-6 |
| Greenwood Academy | Central | K-9 |
| Gros Morne Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Hampden Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Hazelwood Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| Henry Gordon Academy | Labrador | K-12 |
| Heritage Collegiate | Central | 7-12 |
| Hillview Academy | Central | K-9 |
| Holy Cross All Grade | Western | K-12 |
| Holy Cross Elementary (Holyrood) | Avalon | K-6 |
| Holy Cross School Complex | Central | K-12 |
| Holy Family Elementary (Chapel Arm) | Avalon | K-6 |
| Holy Name of Mary Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Holy Trinity High | Avalon | 9-12 |
| Immaculate Conception Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| J. R. Smallwood Middle School | Labrador | 4-7 |
| Jane Collins Academy | Central | 10-12 |
| John Watkins Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Juniper Ridge Intermediate | Avalon | 5-8 |
| Labrador Straits Academy | Labrador | K-12 |
| Lake Melville School | Labrador | K-12 |
| Leading Tickles Primary | Central | K-3 |
| Long Range Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Lumsden Academy | Central | K-9 |
| Main River Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Mary Queen of Peace Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| Mary Queen of the World Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| Marystown Central High School | Central | 10-12 |
| Mealy Mountain Collegiate | Labrador | 8-12 |
| Menihek High School | Labrador | 8-12 |
| New World Island Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Our Lady of the Cape School | Western | K-8 |
| Paradise Elementary | Avalon | K-5 |
| Paradise Intermediate | Avalon | 6-8 |
| Peacock Primary School | Labrador | K-3 |
| Pearce Junior High School | Central | 8-9 |
| Pearson Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Perlwin Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| Persalvic Elementary | Avalon | K-8 |
| Phoenix Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Piccadilly Central High | Western | 9-12 |
| Point Leamington Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Queen of Peace Middle School | Labrador | 4-7 |
| Random Island Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Riverside Elementary | Central | K-6 |
| Riverwood Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Roncalli Central High | Avalon | 7-12 |
| Sacred Heart Academy | Central | K-7 |
| Sandstone Academy | Central | K-6 |
| Southwest Arm Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Sprucewood Academy | Western | 4-6 |
| St. Andrew’s Elementary | Avalon | K-5 |
| St. Anne’s Academy | Avalon | K-6 |
| St. Augustine’s Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| St. Bernard’s Elementary | Avalon | K-4 |
| St. Catherine’s Academy | Avalon | K-12 |
| St. Edward’s School | Avalon | K-6 |
| St. Francis of Assisi Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| St. Francis School | Avalon | K-8 |
| St. George’s Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| St. James Regional High | Western | 7-12 |
| St. Joseph’s Academy | Central | K-12 |
| St. Joseph’s All Grade | Central | K-12 |
| St. Mark’s School | Central | K-12 |
| St. Mary’s Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| St. Peter’s Elementary (UIC) | Avalon | K-9 |
| Stella Maris Academy | Avalon | K-12 |
| Stephenville Elementary | Western | 4-5 |
| Templeton Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Tricentia Academy | Central | K-12 |
| Truman Eddison Memorial | Western | K-6 |
| Valmont Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Viking Trail Academy | Western | K-12 |
| Woodland Elementary | Avalon | K-6 |
| Woodland Primary | Western | K-3 |
| École des Grands-Vents | Francophone | K-6 |
| École Rocher-du-Nord | Francophone | 7-12 |
| École Notre-Dame-du-Cap | Francophone | K-8 |
| École Sainte-Anne | Francophone | K-12 |
| École Boréale | Francophone | K-12 |
| École l’ENVOL | Francophone | K-12 |