For many Plano families, the first day of the 2025–26 school year comes with a big change: no more yellow school buses pulling up to the curb. Plano ISD reclassified what it considers “hazardous” walking conditions, cutting service for approximately 1,000 students.
Until now, students living more than two miles from campus — or those with dangerous routes to school — automatically qualified for free busing. The district’s updated criteria have removed dozens of neighborhoods from the hazardous list, leaving some students to cross busy roads on foot.
Why The Change?
Plano ISD leaders say the adjustments were not made overnight. Superintendent Dr. Theresa Williams points to years' worth of data and feedback from the community and city partners.
“These updates were not sudden, and they were not made lightly,” said Superintendent Dr. Theresa Williams in an official statement. “They reflect months of planning, years of data and a commitment to doing what’s right for students both in terms of safety and the responsible use of taxpayer resources.”
The district points to several factors behind the decision, from a third-party audit’s recommendations to meeting Texas Education Agency guidelines and addressing budget constraints. Trustees add that recent infrastructure upgrades — such as new crosswalks, sidewalks and pedestrian signals — have led some routes to fall outside the state’s hazardous classification.
Plano ISD says it remains committed to transparency and urges families to turn to official district communications for the most reliable and up-to-date information.
“We value the trust families place in us, and while we understand that change can be difficult, we stand behind this decision as one that is necessary, thoughtful and grounded in long-term stewardship of public resources,” said Board President Dr. Tyra. “We understand that change can create uncertainty. But fear should never replace facts. We are dedicated to supporting students and families, and upholding transparency in all we do.”
What Parents Can Now Expect
Plano ISD continues to provide four main types of transportation: regular bus service for students who live at least two miles from school or in designated hazardous areas; special education transportation as outlined in a student’s individualized education program (IEP); hazardous roadway transportation for routes deemed unsafe to walk; and fare-based busing, offered to ineligible riders when space is available.
Parents and guardians can visit Plano ISD’s website for a directory of schools that are affected, as well as an up-to-date list of hazardous roadways, which include U.S. 75 Central Expressway, Dallas North Tollway, President George Bush Turnpike, S.H. 289 / Preston Road, among others.
Despite the changes, the district says Special Education Transportation will remain unaffected, and families losing bus service have been contacted multiple times to help them prepare for the transition.
Budget Pressures At Play
Like many Texas school districts, Plano ISD faces rising transportation costs without matching state funding. According to CBS News, last year, the district spent $20.6 million on transportation but received just $2.5 million from the state to cover it.
The bus service cuts come on the heels of other cost-saving measures. Just last year, Plano ISD closed three campuses, citing declining enrollment and high housing costs that make it harder for young families to move into the area. The closures are expected to save $5.2 million annually.
As the school year begins, Plano ISD stands by its decision — framing it as a balance between safety, fiscal stewardship and adapting to the realities of a growing, changing community.
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