In the US do we use public school buses to take children to and from religious private schools?

No. Private and religious schools use their own buses. They must have the same sort of equipment, however, to transport children.

@Yellowdog And, no government funds are given to the buses? This person told me he worked in education for years, and that I shouldn’t question what he said, that he knew what he was talking about. I wasn’t really questioning, as much as I just made an exclamation about being surprised to hear it.

It’s true in my state. There was a ruling some years ago that children had to be provided with public school busing to take children to public or private schools.

No, not here, at least not in the 80’s and early 90s, when my daughter was in a private Christian school. There was no bus to the school. If there had been it would have been a bus the church owned and the driver would have been a volunteer.

@janbb, I find that a bit odd.

I take it the bird resides in New Jersery, where by law the state is required to provide school transportation to all primary school students or pay a stipend to parents in lieu of busing.

It depends on the jurisdiction. I went to private high school, and the city had to provide bus service.

Not in California. We are strong believers in the First Amendment, and stress separation of Church and State.

Other states don’t seem to have high regard for the Constitution.

Here in Memphis,TN—if ANY State funds went to private school transportation, especially religious, there’d be massive lawsuits

I cannot speak to the funding, but my niece rides the public school bus to her Catholic school.

When I was growing up, the elementary school-age Catholic kids in my public school went to CCD classes on Wednesday. They left around 2:00PM and were transported by the public school buses. Then, when the public elementary school was dismissed, we got on our buses, then a stop was made at the Catholic school to pick up the kids who had gone to CCD. It was treated like an extracurricular activity.

It isn’t a church-and-state issue or a Constitutional question. It’s a matter of keeping children safe. The state and local laws vary considerably and can be very complicated – which students are eligible, and how to define the geographic area that will or won’t be served.

I think it is a church and state issue. I’m shocked that some school districts do it. This Q was eye opening for me. I’d be shocked if it was happening anywhere I’ve lived. If it was I was completely unaware of it.

Now that the Superbowl’s over…

It’s not unconstitutional for a government to provide school buses, or other public services, to private schools. The Supreme Court has ruled extensively on this same matter, and it’s venerable and established law. If the government service is for public policy reasons and doesn’t advance a particular religious view or teach a doctrine, it’s permitted.

It’s equally allowable for a city to: pave and maintain the road leading to the front of that school; send fire trucks to respond to an alarm; inspect the facility and enforce the local building and safety codes; send police for any crime or danger.

Have you ever gone to or driven by a religious institution after a well-attended event, such Christmas worship or a large funeral? There’s likely one or more police officers outside, directing traffic and ensuring public safety. Often, a police escort leads a funeral procession from the church to the cemetery, again for safety reasons. In recent decades, police have provided heightened security to synagogues on the Jewish high holidays.

^^I always assumed the cops in front of synagogues and funeral processions were privately paid. As far as directing traffic after a service, I never thought about, I have no idea who pays for that.

I’m not sure I see all those things the same as transporting children to private school. I understand the argument, but I’m still surprised it’s happening.

No.
@JLeslie A cop working as a funeral escort or other, is most likely working a second job. The “cop” who is not an actual police officer is probably a private security company employee.

@kritiper What do you mean working a second job?

A job as a security officer—outside that of the police force.
Some police officers have a second job as security officers and are allowed to wear the uniform, badge, guns, etc etc. and make arrests,

There is NO WAY where I live. where tax supported public school buses could be used for this purpose. Police officers might be provided if it were a safety issue. The attendees of said institutions are tax payers, too. School buses either belong to the public school system itself, or are contracted by the school board.

People who send their kids to private school pay just as much in taxes as everyone else, @Yellowdog.

@Yellowdog That’s what I thought. The cop is hired by the temple during his off hours. Doesn’t that mean he’s paid by the synagogue?

My sister went to Catholic school and the public school bus took her (New York state).

@JLeslie They work two jobs. Some people work three jobs.

@kritiper I’m interested in who is paying for the purposes of this Q. When a cop is stationed in front of a temple are they being paid by the temple or the tax payers? I had always assumed the temple is paying. I just went to a lecture last week at the synagogue and there was a cop parked outside the entire time.

If the cop is in uniform, he is on duty. If he’s off duty, working a side job, he’s not wearing the uniform of the municipality.

@jca2 Above, @Yellowdog says they can wear the police uniform.

If a police officer is in uniform, he is working for the public, not working privately.

If you ran up to a cop and asked for help, and he was working privately, would he say “I’m not at work today. I can’t help you?” It makes no sense, @Yellowdog

So, I googled, and it looks like indeed sometimes the police are hired privately, and still wear their uniforms. https://www.google.com/amp/s/slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/09/moonlighting-police-officers-should-private-companies-be-able-to-hire-off-duty-cops.amp

There’s a synagogue on my street. During the high holidays and other significant events, the city has a large police presence on-site. These men (and some women, but mostly men) aren’t security guards or rent-a-cops. The sovereign has a heightened interest in protecting its residents, keeping peace and safety within its borders, and avoiding another Pittsburgh situation.

I wrote to the detective at work who’s been here over 30 years. The following is what he wrote in response to my questions about uniforms and about who pays for police detail at funerals and religious institutions:

“Police officer having second jobs depends on the jurisdiction, and have to be approved, making sure it is not a conflict of interest, also the officer requesting a second job approval, his or her duty performance, i.e., attendance, productivity, and disciplinary record come into play.
Some are allowed to be in uniform (NYPD), we do not, since it is not in an official capacity.

Funeral details are usually paid by the department if is it’s a member , an officer’s close family member or a retired member.”

When I asked about detail in front of a religious institution, who pays for it, this is what he wrote:

“Depends, if is part of a funeral, paid by the department, something else, paid by the institution.”

@Love_my_doggie Yes, I believe the policemen at synagogues in my town during the High Holy Days – mainly there to provide street crossing safety – are there as part of public duty.

@jca2 Thanks.