NJ School Buses To Be Powered By Ads

Is your child's school bus sponsored by Pepsi or Coke?

If not, it may soon be. New Jersey is the latest state to draft a bill supporting advertising on yellow buses in order to combat a recent $812 million cutback to school aid.

The Boston Globe reports:

"The New Jersey bill requires boards of education to use half the revenue the ads generate to defray fuel costs for student busing. The other half could go toward school programs or services the individual districts deem appropriate."

Other states, including Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Tennessee and Texas, who have already implemented the ad campaign, have reported raising $1000 per bus.

Although The Globe reports dissent over "blatant commercialization," the initiative has generally bred widespread support.

Many administrators view the ads as a creative solution that will bring school districts one step closer to rectifying educational deficit.