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Diverse Communities

Over the past several years, thousands of communities have begun implementing SRTS programs. Diverse communities—including low-income, urban, rural, or minority communities—often face greater challenges in implementing SRTS, whether it is due to a higher level of crime and fears about personal safety, greater geographic distances, lack of financial resources to pursue SRTS projects, or difficulty reaching and engaging parents. Unfortunately, these are often the very communities where many children are already walking and bicycling to school and where Safe Routes to School programs could be of a particular benefit in improving safety.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership recognizes the challenges that low-income communities face in accessing federal Safe Routes to School funds and implementing Safe Routes to School programs. We are working at the national, state and local level to make sure that Safe Routes to School programs are able to succeed in the communities that are most in need.

National Level:

• The Partnership has developed a series of reauthorization recommendations for the Safe Routes to School program, which have been incorporated into Senate bill S. 1156. Three of the provisions will be of particular help to low-income communities:
• Ensure that planning grants (which are often used in low-income communities) are an allowable use of funds;
• Require states to distributing funds equitably to low-income communities and among urban, surburban and rural districts; and
• Require states to ensure that their application review process does not create a competitive disadvantage for low-income communities in the consideration of additional funds the community is providing to the project.
• The Partnership maintains a Diverse Communities Committee to study specific student and community groups that have experienced unmet needs and gaps in resources with regard to the Safe Routes to School movement. In 2007, the Committee hosted national conversations and surveys in three areas:
• Urban SRTS Roundtable
• Rural SRTS Roundtable
• SRTS for Students with Disabilities Roundtable

In November 2009, the Partnership also issued a white paper on serving students with disabilities through Safe Routes to School.

State Level:

• In April 2009, the Partnership produced a best practices guide for states that includes recommendations on how states can make sure their funding is benefiting low-income communities. The guide also highlights the efforts of 12 states to ensure that low-income communities are able to tap into and successfully use Safe Routes to School funding.
• The Partnership’s State Network Project expanded to 20 states in January 2010. A key focus area for 2010-2011 will be to work with states to ensure that their SRTS program provides support and consideration for low-income communities.

Local Level:

• The Partnership provided technical assistance and support to 10 low-income schools in 2008-2009 as part of the Local School Project. An evaluation report will be issued in early 2010 identifying the challenges and successes in these communities and making recommendations about how SRTS can better address challenges in low-income communities.
• The Partnership has received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Public Health Association to support the development of a new resource guide featuring best practices, case studies and resources specific to implementing Safe Routes to School in low-income communities—whether they are urban, rural and/or communities of color. The resource guide will be available in summer 2010.