The original idea was to mix up the student diversity. Poor kids would sometimes attend schools in expensive school distracts - Kids from expensive neighborhoods would attend poorer schools.
Hilariously not thought through. (just like rent control). All that actually happened was the rich kids yanked their children out of public school, the "in the middle parents" put their kids into catholic school (which is 1/5 the cost of private here). The poor kids then had to beg their parents to get across the city -- WHICH THE PARENTS could not. What a mess.
And the poor kids are the one which end up suffering the most since they are mainly single parent families and/or they really do not have time driving kids around.
BUT, they still keep the different morning start times left over from bussing. Some schools start at 7:30, some 8:15, some 9 - these are all things you have to consider when picking your lottery list.
Just for the record, we picked 30 schools and spent oct & nov touring schools. The system is ridiculous and a failed experiment in my mind.
I see kids being transported by grandparents or carpooling with another parent who has space.