School bus fees jumping nearly 40 per cent next year
Calgary Board of Education riders will pay $500 annually starting 2026-27, up from $360. Rising fuel and labour costs are driving the increase.
The Calgary Board of Education is raising general transportation fees to $500 per rider for the 2026-27 school year — a jump from the current $360. The board cited dwindling transportation reserves and rising fuel and labour costs as the reason for the substantial increase.
CBE Trustee Nancy Close acknowledged the fee makes financial sense on paper but recognized the real burden it places on families. "Context is everything, and we need to recognize the affordability crisis we're experiencing," she said during the May 27 board meeting. "Transportation is not the only cost that some families have to pay."
The increase puts Calgary higher than some regional competitors. Foothills School Division charges $100 per rider with a $250 household maximum. Rockyview charges $415 per student in Grades 1-12, and $207.50 for kindergarteners. In Edmonton, public school students pay $50 monthly for yellow buses and $60 monthly for transit.
The CBE said flexible payment options exist and that no student will be denied service due to the fee. The board also said it would support any provincial changes to transportation funding. Under the current system, the government fully funds specialized transportation but only partially covers general transportation, leaving families to cover the gap.