CBE bus fees jump $140 next school year

Calgary Board of Education families will face a significant jump in bus fees next school year, with costs rising to $500 per student from $360—a $140 increase.

The increase affects students in Grades 1 through 9. No fee changes were proposed for specialized transportation.

"We recognize this is a significant increase," the board acknowledged in a statement. The hike reflects the CBE's depletion of a transportation reserve fund that has subsidized fees in recent years, combined with rising costs to provide the service itself.

The timing comes just a month after Alberta announced a $458-million provincial investment in student transportation for 2026-2027. The province has also committed $8.6 billion over five years to build 90 new schools and update or replace 24 existing ones.

The CBE projects that as 22 new school projects reach completion, more students will attend schools closer to home, eventually reducing transportation demand. "We expect as these schools open more students will be able to attend school closer to home. This will reduce the need for transportation out of their community," the board stated.

The Calgary Catholic School Board, meanwhile, announced no transportation fee increases for next year but flagged the same inflationary pressures affecting the CBE. "Continuing to rely on operational savings to address transportation shortfalls is not sustainable," the Catholic board said, noting that rising costs have outpaced provincial funding growth.