Tell AC Transit: Don't Stop Oakland Refugees From Finishing High School
SIGNATURES
5,759
OVERVIEW
In the eyes of Alameda County Public Transit (AC Transit), if you're 19, you're an adult--who pays the $80/month adult fare (instead of the far more manageable $15/month youth fare). But what if you're a high school student who needs to get to school?
This year, 800-900 Oakland Unified School District will be required to purchase the astronomical $80/month adult bus pass just to get to and from school each day. Many of these are immigrant and/or low-income students. While Oakland Unified School District officials are attempting to work with AC Transit to come up with a solution for high school students over the age of 18, there's yet to be any progress. AC Transit — and thus, effectively, the city of Oakland — is sending the message that while school is free, it necessarily costs a fortune to get there.
We need a student fare pass in Oakland for K-12 learners over the age of 18. We have public schools for a reason — so that students can go to school for free. We have agreed, as a nation, that education for all creates a healthier and more productive society. Students in big, urban school districts face enough challenges to succeeding in school. Affording bus fare simply should not be one of them. Sign this petition to tell AC Transit and Oakland's new Mayor-Elect to create an affordable student bus pass for Oakland's students.
