The Federal Way School District is encouraging all students to ride the bus from Oct. 2-8.

During the weeklong period, the district will be counting all students who ride the bus to determine the amount of state funding the transportation department receives.

The count will be an average of the weekly student totals.

“Because the funding formula is complex, it is important that every rider ride that week so we can establish our actual ridership numbers,” spokeswoman Diane Turner said.

The district has about 400 routes that are covered by 108 school buses.

Each year the state determines the transportation funding based off the one week’s numbers.

Although the district’s funding has not decreased in the past, the state funds are still not enough to support the department without additional funding from the district, Director of Transportation Cindy Wendland said.