Special Needs Guidelines and Procedures

The following procedures have been established to ensure the safe transport of students and to best utilize resources for the good of the entire Special Needs student body requiring transportation.

Curb-to-Curb

Whenever safely possible, we will provide right-side of the bus curb-to-curb service. Simply put, we will pick up the student at the curb directly in front of the designated pick-up location. Conversely, we will drop off the student at the curb directly in front of the designated drop-off location. Drivers are not permitted to drive on a residential driveway with a culvert in order to provide curb-to-curb service even if the homeowner gives permission. Drivers/Attendants may assist students off the bus. However, for the safety of other students and Drivers/Attendants, we do not assist the student to and from the door during p

Address Change

We are unable to accommodate address changes without an updated Transportation Supplement. With this in mind, it is your responsibility to notify the school Diagnostician to request an updated Transportation Supplement. There will be a 3-5 day process from the receipt of the updated Transportation Request Change to arrange for route changes before the student will be picked up or dropped off at the new address.

Pick-up

Assigned route pick-up and drop-off times, particularly at the beginning of the school year, reflect the Transportation Department’s best estimate based on a number of variables. These are estimated times only. As students are added or deleted from routes, actual pick-up and drop-off times will change. You will be notified by your Driver/Attendant the day before the adjustments begin.

We require that students be prepared for pick-up 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time. During pick-up, our drivers will only wait up to 3 minutes past the designated pick-up time. Drivers/attendants will document arrival time and waiting time if they leave without the student. We will not return to pick up the student.

If your student does not ride for 3 consecutive mornings without notification by you, the Driver/Attendant will contact you and/or the school to verify the student’s situation. If this is clearly a temporary absence from school situation, we will maintain contact with you to resume the scheduled pick-up. However, if Transportation has confirmed the student’s need for special transportation has ceased, a notice will be made to the campus Diagnostician. A new ARD/Transportation Supplement must be submitted to resume transportation services. In the event a student’s situation can’t be confirmed, transportation services will cease. Reinstatement of services requires direct contact with our office by you. Transportation services will begin 3-5 days after contact.

Drop-off

Student Authorization

If your student is allowed to enter the home without an adult present, you must specify this during the ARD meeting. The Diagnostician will note this on the Transportation Supplement. In the interest of the student’s safety, he/she must use a doorway that is visible from the bus’s location, such as a front door or garage door. We will observe that the student safely enters the home. Should safe entry not be made, the student will be returned to their campus.

In the event a designated person is asked to assist the student, we must have an Authorized Receiver form on file.

Student Not Riding

If at any time, your student will not be riding the bus, even if only that student requires one-way transportation (i.e. afternoon drop-off only or morning pick-up only) we ask that you contact Transportation at (281) 357-3193 as soon as possible.

No One Available to Receive Students

If your student has been returned to their campus 3 times, we will request an Emergency ARD meeting to discuss other options for drop-off. If this does not correct the issue we are required to contact Child Protective Service. CPS will be asked to investigate the situation.

Authorized Receivers of Students

We must ensure that your child is released to the proper persons. Therefore, for the safety of your child, it is necessary to maintain current and accurate information regarding those you designate to receive your child. For this reason, we require a Release Form to be completed for your student listing each person authorized to receive your child, including each parent and guardian.

At the time of drop-off, the Driver/Attendant will ask the receiving party to see their photo ID. The ID will be compared to the Authorized Receiver of Student Form. In the event the individual cannot be verified, the student will be retained on the bus and returned to their campus.

It is your responsibility to notify us in writing should any changes occur or authorizations are revoked. Please use a separate form for each Release Form. Additional forms may be obtained by asking the Driver/Attendant or contacting the office.

In This Section

Special Needs Guidelines and Procedures

Curb-to-Curb

Address Change

Pick-up

Drop-off

Medication