Students Ride Free on City Bus

Access Matters: Connecting Students to Opportunity

At a press conference today, April 6, 2026, at Farwell Recreation Center, students stood alongside district leaders, Board members, and city officials to mark a major step forward for Detroit families.

Joined by Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Board President LaTrice McClendon, and Board Members Monique Bryant and Reverend Dr. Steve Bland, Jr., Mayor Mary Sheffield announced that all children in Detroit will now be able to ride city buses for free.

For students and families, the impact is immediate. For the district, it’s transformational.

With the city now covering public transportation access for students, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) will no longer need to purchase bus passes for high school students, freeing up resources that can be reinvested directly into classrooms, programs, and student supports as the district continues its work to help every student rise to their highest potential.”

“But beyond the dollars, this moment is about something deeper: access.

“You know, early in my career, I taught in New York City. And one of the things that stood out to me right away was how students were able to attend schools all across the city—not just in their immediate neighborhood—because they had access to a strong, reliable transportation system,” said Dr. Vitti.

“They could get on a subway or a bus and get to a school that fit their interests, their goals, and their future. That connection matter.”

When you think about one of the challenges we have here in Detroit, it’s access to transportation. For some of our students, getting to school isn’t automatic—it’s something they have to figure out every single day.

And when a student is worried about how they’re going to get to school, or how they’re getting home, that’s energy taken away from learning.

When transportation becomes a barrier, opportunity becomes limited.

And that’s not something we should accept.

“We are grateful to Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield for her leadership and partnership in expanding access to transportation for our students,” said LaTrice McClendon, President, DPSCD Board of Education. “This is what it looks like when a city comes together to support young people. By removing barriers like transportation, we are opening doors—ensuring every student has the opportunity to fully engage in their education and pursue their future with confidence.”

At Detroit Public Schools Community District, we know that when students can get to school consistently and reliably, everything else becomes more possible. They can focus. They can participate. They can stay after school. They can fully engage in their education.

For students, the impact is immediate and real.

“This makes a big difference for us,” said Mac Sconi, Senior at Pershing High School, and Katelyn Tyner, Freshman at Pershing High School. “Now we can focus on getting to school on time, staying involved after school, and not stressing about how we’re getting home. It just makes things easier so we can focus on our future.”

They stood alongside their peers Demarco May, Junior; DaMarlo May, Junior; and Colin Richardson, Sophomore—representing students across the district who benefit from expanded access.

And that’s what this is about.

Making sure every student, no matter where they live, can get to the school that’s right for them. A school that matches their interests. A school that prepares them for what comes next.

Because when access is in place, opportunity follows.

And that’s how we move forward.

Join us this Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Level Up Expo at East English Village Preparatory Academy as all high schools will be represented and students will have an opportunity to learn what school matches their interest.

Students can hop on a bus and connect with their future opportunity.