Advocates, families, and community organizations are raising serious concerns regarding the implementation of a fare evasion enforcement program by the School District of Philadelphia (SDP).
While the program is being presented as an effort to address revenue losses related to fare nonpayment and SEPTA Key card “swipes,” this proposal risks pulling young people into the criminal justice system rather than addressing the root causes that lead students to bypass fares in the first place.
Earlier this year, our coalition called for expanding access for student fare cards to include evenings, weekends, and summer for Philly students.
Every day, nearly 100,000 Philly students in grades 7-12 travel to and from school. Student fare cards are only valid from 5:30am-8:00pm on days when school is in session. Fare cards do not work on the weekends or over the summer when students need access to jobs and other opportunities. Students are only eligible for the cards if they live more than 1.5 miles from their campus - leaving out more than 30,000 secondary students in Philadelphia.
“At a time when school districts across the country are struggling with chronic absenteeism and barriers to student attendance, it is deeply troubling to create a system that punishes students simply for trying to get to school,” said Stephen Bronskill, Coalition Manager for Transit Forward Philly. “Transportation is not a luxury for many young people, it is a necessity to reach school, part time jobs, and activities.”
Councilmember At-Large Landau shared the following response to the SDP decision: “Last month, I passed a resolution calling for a City Council hearing on the need for universal student fares in Philadelphia. In our city, we should be expanding access for young people in Philly to reach jobs, opportunities, and programs that will help them build their futures, not criminalizing them while they're taking public transportation. I look forward to holding this hearing and bringing experts together to discuss real solutions to the student fare access gap.”
Advocates warn that increased enforcement measures, citations, and police involvement could disproportionately impact low-income students, Black and Latino youth, and students already facing instability at home. Rather than investing in supportive solutions, the program risks criminalizing poverty and placing additional burdens on families already navigating economic hardship.
Community members are also questioning the broader policy disconnect between the District’s stated goals of increasing attendance and educational access while simultaneously supporting enforcement systems that may deter students from using public transportation altogether.
Jerrett Johnson Lead Transit Organizer for 5th Square Advocacy stated the following: “This procedure would put students behind the eight ball in life which we are setting them up for failure instead of success…in my opinion, this program would not help students because the passes would still work only on school days but with someone checking every move.”
Alex Milone Transit Committee Co-chair at 5th Square Advocacy stated the following: “If we truly want our students in classrooms and participating in extracurricular activities, we must create systems that help them get there safely and consistently…the answer cannot just be surveillance, fines, or court involvement for young people who may not have the resources to pay for transportation.”
Advocates are calling on the School District and transit officials to pursue alternative solutions centered on student support, including expanded transit access programs, improved outreach to families, fare assistance initiatives, and restorative approaches that do not expose youth to criminal penalties.
Additionally, advocates recommend the school district reach out to students and families over the summer to communicate these changes and solicit further feedback. Furthermore, this is an opportunity for the school district to reform and expand access to the current student fare system.
Transit Forward Philadelphia, 5th Square Advocacy, Clean Air Council, SEPTA Youth Advisory Council, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
