FREE travel for Notts children who attend a county school from outside the catchment area could be scrapped.
Notts County Council is set to consult on discontinuing the discretionary travel scheme as it tries to cut costs.
But the plans have sparked anger with some claiming it will prevent parents from having full choice of where to send their children to school.
The authority's policy committee is set to approve the start of the consultation next Wednesday.
A final decision would then be taken in September.
Currently 863 children in Years 7 and 8 use the scheme. Around 400 children due to start Year 7 this September are also likely to use it.
The axe would fall from September 2014, though children already using the scheme would continue to do so until they reach the end of Year 11.
Councillor John Peck, committee chairman for children and young people, said the move would save the council £1.7 million by 2017-18.
He said: "We feel that this scheme is not a fair and prudent way to spend what we see as a significant amount of money."
The scheme was introduced in September 2011, when the Conservatives were in power, for children starting Year 7.
It was aimed at secondary schoolchildren who live in the county to allow them to go to a county school between three and 25 miles from home.
It is expected that from September, 1,270 children in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be using it. They will still be able to do so until the end of Year 11.
But if they have a younger brother or sister, they wouldn't be able to attend the same school without paying for transport.
Mr Peck said he sympathised with those in that position and insisted the council would take note of the results of the consultation, which will last for four weeks.
He added that Notts County Council is the only local education authority to offer such a scheme.
One school which takes a high number of students from out of catchment is Toot Hill in Bingham.
Executive head teacher John Tomasevic was fuming over the plans, adding: "Withdrawing travel funding for out-of-catchment students would be a very disappointing decision."
Mr Peck's predecessor, Tory councillor Philip Owen, also slammed the decision, saying it was made out of "political spite".
He said: "Parental choice will be badly affected. We installed this two years ago to promote parental choice.
"We feel people should be able to send their child to the best school as they see fit."
Are you affected by these plans? Call Education Correspondent Marcus Boocock on 0115 905 1952 or e-mail marcus.boocock@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
