Transportation for children in basic education

Finland's Basic Education Act has provisions concerning the school transportation of comprehensive school students.

If a student's journey to school is at least five kilometres or the trip is, considering the student's age and circumstances, too difficult, strenuous, or dangerous, the student is entitled to free transport or assistance. The right to transportation is calculated based on the distance to the nearest school.

A student's daily journey to and from school, including any waiting time, shall not last longer than two and a half hours.

The board of the education department has approved school transportation in the winter season (November-March) for first- and second-grade students whose journey to school is over three kilometres.

The practical arrangements for any applicable transport to and from school are decided upon by the education department's financial manager.

Updated: 27.10.2005