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Changing Buses: Commute Complexity and Academic Outcomes

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Changing Buses: Commute Complexity and Academic Outcomes
Language: English
Authors: Julia Burdick-Will, Marc L. Stein
Source: Grantee Submission. 2026.
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 53
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305C180025
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Student Transportation, High School Students, Public Schools, Urban Schools, Student Mobility, Attendance, Grade Point Average, Bus Transportation
Geographic Terms: Maryland (Baltimore)
DOI: 10.1162/EDFP.a.446
Abstract: This study exploits a major overhaul of the public transportation system to examine the relationship between commute difficulty and academic outcomes. Specifically, we use administrative data from all high school students in the Baltimore City Public Schools during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years to compare the school mobility rates, attendance, and grade point averages of cohorts of students right before and after the overhaul. We use route fixed effects to compare students to their neighbors and classmates who would have had the same estimated commute to school if not for the system-wide changes in routes and schedules. Total travel time does not predict any of our outcomes, but we find that students in years when the commute required a bus transfer are more likely to change schools and to be absent. These findings imply that districts should prioritize direct routes to school for students whenever possible. [This paper will be published in the "Education Finance and Policy."]
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED681223
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Report
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  Data: Changing Buses: Commute Complexity and Academic Outcomes
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Julia+Burdick-Will%22">Julia Burdick-Will</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marc+L%2E+Stein%22">Marc L. Stein</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Grantee+Submission%22"><i>Grantee Submission</i></searchLink>. 2026.
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  Data: 53
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Data: Reports - Research
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  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Transportation%22">Student Transportation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Schools%22">Public Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urban+Schools%22">Urban Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Mobility%22">Student Mobility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attendance%22">Attendance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+Point+Average%22">Grade Point Average</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bus+Transportation%22">Bus Transportation</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maryland+%28Baltimore%29%22">Maryland (Baltimore)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1162/EDFP.a.446
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study exploits a major overhaul of the public transportation system to examine the relationship between commute difficulty and academic outcomes. Specifically, we use administrative data from all high school students in the Baltimore City Public Schools during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years to compare the school mobility rates, attendance, and grade point averages of cohorts of students right before and after the overhaul. We use route fixed effects to compare students to their neighbors and classmates who would have had the same estimated commute to school if not for the system-wide changes in routes and schedules. Total travel time does not predict any of our outcomes, but we find that students in years when the commute required a bus transfer are more likely to change schools and to be absent. These findings imply that districts should prioritize direct routes to school for students whenever possible. [This paper will be published in the "Education Finance and Policy."]
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        PageCount: 53
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      – SubjectFull: Student Transportation
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      – SubjectFull: High School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Public Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Urban Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Student Mobility
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      – SubjectFull: Attendance
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      – SubjectFull: Grade Point Average
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bus Transportation
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      – SubjectFull: Maryland (Baltimore)
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      – TitleFull: Changing Buses: Commute Complexity and Academic Outcomes
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            NameFull: Marc L. Stein
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              Y: 2026
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