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 distribute 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. Produced by a working group that consulted with individuals throughout the country and federal agencies, the white paper called for better integration of children with disabilities in existing training materials and resources, pilot projects to develop greater knowledge about including children with disabilities in SRTS programs, and collection of additional data on children with disabilities. The Partnership and the National Center for Safe Routes to School both see serving students with disabilities as a priority, and we are pleased to report progress in several areas:
  • In May 2010, the National Center for Safe Routes to School issued a tip sheet with local examples focused on involving students with disabilities in SRTS. They are also working on a more detailed resource guide and an update to the SRTS National Course; both will greatly contribute to the knowledge base about including children with disabilities in SRTS. Both the Center and the Partnership also presented on a May 2010 webinar on children with disabilities.
  • Walk to School Day 2010 includes a strong focus on including students of all abilities in the events of the day. The National Center for Safe Routes to School will be sending messages to the thousands of participating schools with information on how to involve students with disabilities in Walk to School Day.
  • Melody Geraci, chair of the Partnership's Diverse Communities Committee, spoke at the June 2010 meeting of the state DOT SRTS Coordinators. She encouraged them to conduct pilot programs for students with disabilities.
  • The Partnership continues to advocate for legislative changes to the federal Safe Routes to School program that would include more data collection on participation of students with disabilities in SRTS.
  • We look forward to continuing to work in collaboration with the National Center for Safe Routes to School on this critical issue.

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. In February 2010, an evaluation report was issued 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.