BREAKING: Lakewood Schools Tell Parents to Hold Off as Non-Mandated Busing Fee Jumps to $945
Public Officials Need to Step up and fight for their constituents
Lakewood parents are facing another potentially significant expense for the upcoming school year, as the cost of non-mandated transportation is set to rise dramatically.
The fee for non-mandated busing for the 2026–27 school year is increasing from $385 to $945 per student — a jump of $560 per child.
For families with multiple children who require non-mandated transportation, the increase could quickly add thousands of dollars to already substantial annual tuition and school-related expenses.
Following the announcement, many Lakewood schools, acting on the recommendation of the Igud Hamosdos, initially advised parents not to opt in to the program at the new $945 rate.
The Igud reportedly argued that the transportation expense should be addressed through government funding rather than placing the additional burden directly on parents.
However, the situation continues to develop.
As of Motzei Shabbos, many schools issued updated guidance asking parents to neither opt in nor opt out for the time being, essentially telling families to hold off while efforts continue to resolve the issue.
Parents should therefore follow the latest instructions from their individual schools before making a decision.
With Lakewood families already dealing with tuition, property taxes and other rising costs, the possibility of an additional $945 charge per child has quickly become another major concern heading into the new school year.
