Yesterday II experienced a moment of fear that no grandparent should ever have to endure. My seven year old grand daughter , Kala, got off the school bus and had to walk to her daycare alone in a neighborhood without any adult there to accompany her. The bus arrived early and the staff was not notified at her daycare. she was walking alone in an area that is not that safe. Fortunately, nothing happened to her, but this incident was a stark wake-up call about the risks children face when they are left to navigate their way home alone. We need a policy change from the School District of Philadelphia 

we are  alone in my concerns. Many parents and grandparents expressed dissatisfaction and worry over the current policy that allows elementary-age children, as young as six to ten years old, to be dropped off at their stops without a guardian present. In our community, areas near bus stops often do not safe  or pedestrian pathways. This poses additional safety concerns, especially as daylight hours shrink during late autumn and winter.

Research from the National Center for Safe Routes to School highlights a disturbing trend: children account for nearly 30% of all pedestrian injuries each year in America. A significant portion of these injuries occur as children navigate routes to and from school transportation unchaperoned. This statistic underscores the urgency of revising our current policies surrounding school bus drop-offs.

I propose a change in these policies to ensure the safety of our young ones:

1. Implement strict guidelines requiring the presence of a designated parent or guardian before a child in this age bracket is allowed to disembark from the bus.
2. Introduce a system of identification, such as a card or badge, which can be shown to the bus driver to confirm a parent or guardian’s presence.
3. Provide training and awareness sessions for bus drivers about these new safety protocols to ensure full compliance and understanding.
4. Partner with local authorities and community groups to improve infrastructure around school bus stops, including better lighting and safer pedestrian pathways.

By taking these steps, we can ensure that children are safe, and parents can have peace of mind knowing their children are protected. We owe it to our children to provide a safe environment that allows them to learn and grow without unnecessary risks.

Please join me in demanding a change to these school transportation policies. Sign this petition and help us build a community where every child's journey home is a safe one.