Reducing the number of people coming and going to school in gas and diesel-powered vehicles substantially improves air quality and traffic congestion around schools and contributes to safer spaces for walking and biking. These AISD initiatives address mobility options for students and staff, improve our school and community air quality, and demonstrate actions to address the challenges of climate change.
Emissions-free Electric Buses
Like many school districts, most AISD buses are diesel-powered, however, AISD is beginning to convert its fleet to electric school buses. The first three electric buses started their routes in 2024, and AISD is now in a master planning process to explore what it takes to go 100% electric. Conversion to electric buses could decrease bus riders’ exposure to emissions and reduce air pollution in our community. Check out this video interview (see minutes 13:40-19:35) with AISD’s Executive Director of Transportation & Vehicle Services to learn more about the school district’s electric bus project.
Be Idle Free: Young Lungs at Work
Idling more than 5 minutes is prohibited by City of Austin Ordinance and by AISD’s Policy for District Vehicles, including buses. When idling, vehicles produce soot and harmful cases that are especially dangerous to children. We ask families to protect young lungs by turning off your engines, especially during school dropoff and pickup. The Air Quality Toolkit has resources for your school’s anti-idling campaigns.
Be Air Smart With the Clean Air Force
Purple Air sensors that monitor outdoor air quality are all over the globe, including Austin, and even some AISD schools! Check out the real-time data map and use these lesson plans to bring the data to life in the classroom through the “Be Air Smart” program. Request a Purple Air sensor for your school or office building.
Walk & Bike to School
Safe routes for walking and biking are essential to the overall health and safety of our communities. They also allow for planet and people-friendly alternatives to commuting by car, and can provide fun ways to exercise and build community. These resources are available to support safe walking and biking at AISD schools:
- Movability School Pool program and Go Grants to make carpooling, walk pools and bike pools safe and easy.
- City of Austin Safe Routes to School has information on how to become a crossing guard or get a crossing guard for your school, plan bike/walk activities, learn about Safe Routes infrastructure projects near your school, and stay informed.
- The Ghisallo Cycling Initiative is an Austin-based organization that supports bicycling access and bike safety instruction, especially in underserved communities.
- Find a shady route to school with the American Forest Shade Equity Map.
- Get inspired! Watch this student video about a transportation EcoRise eco-audit and bike-/walk-to-school campaign.
Transit Adventures for Students & Staff with Capital Metro
Capital Metro services are free for riders 18 years old and younger. To help make bus riding easier for students and teachers, consider planning a Transit Adventure Field Trip (guide created by AISD student Luci Borowski for her 2020 Girl Scout Gold Award project). CapMetro can also organize a team-building Transit Adventure trip for your class, school, or work group using transit services.
Electric Vehicle Charging
All new schools constructed through the 2017 and 2022 bond programs are required to have EV-charging or be EV-ready so stations can be installed in the future. Recently, Austin Energy and AISD partnered on an EVs for Schools initiative to install additional electric vehicle charging stations at schools, and to provide a STEM-based curriculum to use the charging stations as a teaching tool. Email sustainability@austinisd.org to see if your school has electric vehicle charging stations and contact pluginaustin@austinenergy.com for student field experiences
Reforestation
Trees are vital to air quality and maintaining our planet’s atmosphere. They remove air pollutants, regulate temperature, reduce energy demand, and produce oxygen that we all need to live. Learn more about reforestation at AISD.
Clean Energy
At AISD, solar and renewable energy help save money, improve our environment, and create enriched learning opportunities. Learn more about AISD’s solar and renewable energy initiatives.
Resources
AISD Transportation & Vehicle Services
City of Austin Safe Routes to School
Movability School Pool
Ghisallo Cycling Initiative
Clean Air Force “Be Air Smart” Program