University buses, a practical necessity for an incredible number of children, are at the middle of new efforts to boost revenue. Wheels on the bus go round and round bring public health and commercialization concerns to the college setting. In doing thus, they potentially expose classes districts to First Amendment lawsuits.



I examined numerous school bus advertising payments and laws. I reviewed First Amendment “forum analysis” as applied from the transit and school settings to clarify how this legal test may affect school districts susceptible to such laws.

I have made recommendations for school districts to enact appropriate policies to ensure such advertising does not undermine public health and to enable the districts to help keep control over their home.

School buses, a practical necessity intended for millions of children across the nation, are increasingly at the center of controversial efforts to raise revenue for distressed open public school districts. Commercialization of the school setting is not new, 1, 2 and school buses have been the subject of contentious marketing strategies before. 3 New school shuttle advertising bills and laws and regulations have brought commercialization concerns here we are at the forefront, and might have unwittingly exposed school areas to First Amendment legal cases.

School bus advertising is intended to generate revenue to the state, usually for school-related wants. 4, 5 In states with enacted laws, gross income are reportedly modest. 6 On the other hand, supporters believe any degree of income is meaningful, 6 and have absolutely called bus advertisers “local heroes” for purchasing schools. 7 Not all public officials and mom and dad agree. 6 Bills are already voted down over security concerns and disagreement while using commercialization of the institution setting. 8



In add-on to raising concerns about safety and commercial exploitation, such proposed state legislation can be unintentionally setting up school districts to be the target of 1st Amendment lawsuits. 9 Public school buses are government property similar to public transportation and college campuses. When they get opened their facilities to help advertisers, public transit authorities are regularly forced to fend of First Amendment lawsuits, 10–14 and general public school districts have challenged similar legal challenges. 15, 16 School buses may represent the following frontier of litigation around permissible speech on authorities property. School districts generally wish to maintain control over so what can be displayed on the inner and exterior of school buses. Therefore, an comprehension of First Amendment jurisprudence related to government property and in the applicable legal test, forum analysis, are essential. 19

I examined various proposed and enacted school tour bus advertising bills and legal guidelines. I also reviewed Initial Amendment forum analysis as applied inside public transit and open school settings to explain how this body of law may affect school districts susceptible to school bus advertising laws and regulations. I have made ideas for school districts to enact appropriate policies to help keep control over their property and steer clear of litigation.