Is every student with a disability eligible for special transportation services?

No.  Most students with disabilities in HISD will not qualify for special transportation services.  Only those students recommended by the student's Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee and whose Individualized Education Plan (IEP) specifies that special transportation services are required as a related service to enable the student to obtain a free and appropriate public education will be eligible.

What does the ARD committee consider when it is deciding whether or not my child is eligible for special transportation services?

 The ARD committee considers a number of factors including:

• The student's disability;
• The location of the student's special education services;
• The student's communication abilities; and
• The student's reliance on special equipment (i.e. braces, wheel chairs, etc.).

How long after the ARD committee has recommended that a student be provided special transportation will it take for a route to be scheduled?

After transportation services has received a completed request from an authorized representative of the ARD committee, services should commence within ten school days.  Any subsequent changes to a student's transportation requirements may require up to 10 school days to put into effect, although transportation services will attempt to accommodate the required change sooner if possible.

What kind of transportation service does the district provide?

The district provides the transportation services specified by the ARD committee as needed to meet the related service requirements which will enable a student with a disability the opportunity to obtain a free and appropriate public education.

Are safety devices used when transporting my child?

Safety devices as appropriate, and as specified by the ARD committee are used to properly secure and protect passengers.  Additionally, all buses serving special education routes are two-way radio equipped to ensure that the bus operator has communications with the transportation terminals.  All special education route bus operators and attendants receive initial and on-going training on responding to emergencies and the needs of their passengers.

Will special transportation service, if recommended by the ARD committee, cost me anything?

No.  There will be no charge for transportation services if the ARD committee has determined that transportation services are required as a related service to allow a student with a disability access to a free and appropriate public education.  However, personal equipment such as an appropriate wheel chair, if needed, is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to provide.

I would prefer to transport my own child rather than have the district provide special transportation services.  Is this an option and will the district reimburse me?

Yes.  Parents or guardians of students with disabilities who have been recommended for special transportation services may elect to provide their own transportation.  This election should be communicated to the ARD committee.  The district will reimburse mileage for private transportation for a special needs student at the rate of 25 cents per mile to a maximum of $816 in any one school year.

Where will the bus pick up and deliver my child?

The district provides curb to curb service, to and from school or other specified programs as required by a student's IEP.  Parents or guardians are responsible for having their student prepared and ready for boarding at the scheduled time of arrival for the bus in the mornings.  In the afternoons, the parent or a designated responsible person must be available at the student's destination to receive the child.

What should I do if the bus does not come in the morning or afternoon at its scheduled time?

School buses must travel the same roads that all of us use.  As a result of traffic congestion and road construction, school buses experience delays from time to time as do all motorists.  If your child's bus is more than ten minutes late, please contact the motor pool supervisor at the terminal for your child's route.  The supervisor will be able to contact the bus operator by radio for an update as to the location of the bus and its expected time of arrival.  The phone numbers for our motor pools can be found on our Contact Us web page

What should I do if I have an emergency and cannot be home to receive my child?

You should immediately contact a motor pool supervisor at the terminal where you child's route operates from.  The phone number for our motor pools are available on our Contact Us web page.

Can my child be dropped off in the afternoon at a location other than my home?

Yes, if the requested drop off location is within one mile of your home address where the student is picked up in the mornings.  A request for this service must be made in writing to your Special Education Department Chairperson at your child's campus and is subject to the approval of the transportation department.  You will be notified if your request is approved or denied within ten school days.

If I move, what should I do to be sure that transportation services will continue for my child?

Contact the Special Education Department Chairperson at your child's campus as soon as possible if you move or if your telephone number or alternate address location changes.  Only school personnel have access to the district web site where a change in a student's transportation data may be requested.  The transportation department may need as much as 10 school days to effect a change in service for your child.  Therefore, it is important that you notify your campus as soon as you know of any changes for your child which may affect their transportation needs.

How do I submit an early dismissal for my campus?

All early dismissals must be submitted online through the Early Dismissal Request Form.  Due to the volume of trip requests, faxes, phone calls and e-mails will no longer be accepted.  Remember, your trip request must be submitted no less than 10 school days prior to the date of the trip. Late requests can not be accepted. 

How will I know if my request for an early dismissal has been approved?

Simply check the Early Dismissal Status Report the Friday after the request was submitted.  All requests are listed by campus number.

Why does Routing and Scheduling need my budget number?

In some cases, when campuses are tied with one another for transportation purposes, an early dismissal may effect the number of hours a bus is on the road.  For example, if students for schools A and B are picked up by the same route, and school A would like an early dismissal, while school B does not, the bus will have to make two afternoon trips to deliver all of the students.  Because the bus will make two trips, it will cost roughly twice as much to run the bus on the affected afternoon run.  School A will be responsible for covering those costs, as they were the school requesting the altered service.

When should I submit my field trip request?

Request the field trip as soon as you know your students are taking one!  Remember, your trip request must be submitted no less than 10 school days prior to the date of the trip. Late requests can not be accepted. 

How do I request a field trip?

All field trips must now be requested online through the Field Trip Service Request Form.  Due to the volume of trip requests, faxes, phone calls and e-mails will no longer be accepted. 

How will I know if my trip has been approved?

Finding out if your trip has been accepted is easier then ever!  Simply check the Field Trip Status Report three (3) working days after the request was submitted.  Submit your campus number and the month and year of your field trip on the form, and a list of all trips for your campus for that month and year along with the status of your trip request will be displayed.

Who do I call if I need assistance?

We've tried to make our web site as complete as possible so that you can do almost everything you need to do regarding a field trip on-line.  However, if you do need personal assistance, please feel free to contact our field trip specialist, Ava Bains or our Special Trips and Projects Manager, Paul Youngjohn.  Phone and fax numbers are available for our field trip division on our Contact Us web page.  Please remember though that we do not accept faxed or e-mailed field trip requests.  They must be submitted via our web site using the Field Trip Request Form.

What should I do if the field trip bus is late?

If your bus has not arrived by the time specified on your trip request, call the HISD terminal the bus is coming from.  The phone numbers for our motor pools can be found on our Contact Us web page.  If you aren't sure which terminal the bus is coming from, check the Field Trip Status Report.  The bus terminal your trip will operate from will be listed in the last column.  You may also check the Terminal Assignment Report to find out where your field trip buses typically come from.

What makes a state student eligible for transportation?

Students eligible for transportation to standard education programs are:

• Resident district students who are attending their zoned schools of attendance and;
• Reside two or more miles (as measured along the shortest route that may be traveled on public roads) from their zoned campuses.

Students eligible for standard education transportation may be provided round trip transportation between district designated stops and their zoned campuses (Reference: SPM 3611 - Eligibility Guidelines for Transportation of Students).

How is new student record processed?

New student information should be submitted online using the Standard Education Transportation Application which can be found in the Service Requests are of the transportation web site. The information received from the online form is downloaded to EDULOG once a week. Once that download is complete, a member of the Routing and Scheduling staff assigns all eligible students to bus stops. Student rosters and route updates are posted to the transportation web site every Friday. School transportation coordinators may check the status of the transportation request by viewing these updates. The Tuesday following the posting, students may officially being using their newly assigned stop.

How long will it take for a change to be processed?

Please allow 2-3 weeks for all new student requests and changes to be processed. At any time you may view the status of your request by checking the appropriate online status report.

How is a new transfer student record processed?

When a transfer student requests transportation, the school is responsible for submitting a request on behalf of the student. The school sends the student's information to the Student Transfers Department. The Student Transfers Department then places the student information into a database which is downloaded to the Transportation Department database. This download occurs approximately once a week. A member of the Routing and Scheduling staff assigns all eligible students to bus stops. Student rosters and route updates are posted to the HISD Intranet every Friday. Schools can check the status of their transportation request by viewing these updates and rosters. The Tuesday following the Friday posting, students may officially begin using their newly assigned stop.

Not all transfer students will qualify for transportation services. For more information on student transfers and transportation availability, please visit the HISD Educational Choice Web Page.