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Dear School District of Philadelphia Community,
Years of research shows that students who attend school consistently are more likely to succeed academically. Therefore, at the School District of Philadelphia, we seek to remove as many barriers as possible in order to support students in safely getting to and from school. That is why today I am happy to share information about SEPTA’s reimagined Student Fare Compliance Initiative, which aims to encourage students to safely and responsibly use SEPTA to travel to and from school, and to follow the rules while doing so. Currently, there are two primary components of the initiative.
The K-12 Student Pass Program provides every eligible student a SEPTA Key Card so they can ride public transit to and from school and school-related activities without the barrier of cost. This program has existed as an option for Philadelphia students for two decades.
The Student Fare Diversion Program will launch in the fall of 2026. The program aims to curb instances of students receiving official summary citations for “theft of service” by deferring the most serious consequences for using the student fare card improperly, and providing an opportunity for families, educators, and communities to intervene with a student to seek solutions together.
Today, SEPTA begins the pilot of the Fare Diversion program during which only Student Contact reports will be issued. No formal citations will be issued during the pilot. Please see the handbook available on the District’s Transportation website for full details about the program.
Fare evasion is not an infraction exclusive to school students. SEPTA is working to reduce fare evasion incidents on the system by all of its riders. Since our collective vision is to prepare students for the future, we want to proactively support our students in overcoming barriers, and help them avoid consequences that may hinder their potential.
There are numerous opportunities to learn more about the Student Fare Compliance Initiative. You can review the details of the Student Pass program here, and learn more about the Diversion Program here. During the summer and into the fall, there will be opportunities to engage with SEPTA during our Back-to-School Bus Tour, and through Parent & Family University. And you can always reach SEPTA at 215-580-7800, at SEPTA Customer Service, or by visiting one of their customer service offices.
I want to thank SEPTA for their thoughtful support of students and families. Removing barriers to responsible ridership will help increase student attendance, which in turn will help us become the fastest-improving, large urban public school district in the nation.
In partnership,
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia