Code: EEA

Adopted: 5/18/15

Readopted:  6/12/17, 2/27/23

Orig. Code(s): EEA

School transportation services will be provided for students to and from their neighborhood school consistent with Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 327.043. Transportation may be provided for transporting students to and from curricular and extracurricular activities sponsored by the district, transporting from one school or facility to another, for school-sponsored field trips that are extensions of classroom learning experiences, and transportation to and from parent/student selected optional program placements. Transportation will be provided for homeless students to and from the student’s school of origin[1] as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). 

Elementary students who live more than one mile from school will be transported.  Secondary students who live more than one and one-half miles from school will be transported. Mileage exceptions for health, safety or disability will be made in accordance with the district’s approved supplemental plan. In addition, students, including those receiving special education, may be eligible for transportation for health and safety reasons.

The district will provide notice to families of any proposed change to their students’ transportation availability and will seek timely feedback regarding any safety or health implications of the proposed change, prior to the Board’s approval of the supplemental plans.

Miles from school will be determined by the district’s transportation department, in accordance with Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 581-023-0040(1)(e).

The district may also provide transportation using federal funds[2] or through cooperative agreements with local victims assistance units for a student to attend a safe district school[3] out of the student’s attendance area for any student who is a victim of a violent criminal offense occurring in or on the grounds of the school the student attends, or for a student who attends a school identified as persistently dangerous. If there are no other schools within the district a student may transfer to, the district may establish a cooperative agreement with other districts in the area for a transfer. Transportation for students who transfer for such purposes will be provided in accordance with the agreement.

Students attending private, parochial or public charter school under the compulsory school attendance laws will, where the private, parochial or public charter school is along or near the bus route, be provided riding privileges consistent with federal and state statute.

Transportation will be provided for students whose parent or guardian voluntarily placed the child outside the child’s home with a public or private agency and who is living in a licensed, certified or approved substitute care program, and whose residency is established pursuant to (ORS) 339.134.

Preschool students with disabilities who have transportation as a related service and children from birth to age three who are enrolled in an eligible program shall be provided home to school transportation.

A seat that fully supports each person and meets the minimum standard and specifications of law will be provided at all times.  Seating is not permitted on any portion of the vehicle not designed for that purpose. Passengers shall not be permitted to stand while the vehicle is in motion.

School buses carrying students will be considered extensions of the school experience. All students using school transportation will abide by the code of conduct posted in each school bus or school activity vehicle. Violations of such code, as well as other conduct which is improper or which jeopardizes the safety of self or others, will be reported by the school bus or vehicle driver to the transportation supervisor. The transportation supervisor will, as soon as possible inform the appropriate principal of such occurrence. Violators, consistent with OAR 581-053- 0010(16), may be denied use of transportation for a period of time as deemed proper by the principal and/or transportation supervisor.

The principal or designee shall ensure transportation officials and drivers receive notification of students having special medical or behavioral protocols identified in student records.

Appropriate training, regarding specific protocols including confidentiality requirements, will be provided to drivers.

Aides or assistants that ride a school bus shall receive training on emergency procedures and their role in the safe transportation of all students on the bus.

The school bus or vehicle driver will be responsible for the school bus or vehicle at all times from departure until return.  The driver will not participate in any activities that might impair his/her driving abilities.

The district will comply with all state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to school bus transportation.

END OF POLICY

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Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, 20 U.S.C. §§ 6315, 7912 (2018).
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11431-11435 (2012)

^[1]“School of origin” means the school that the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled.

^[2]Federal funds means funds available through Title IV, Part A, and Title V, Part A.

^[3]If there is not another school in the district to which students can transfer, districts are encouraged, but not required to, explore other appropriate options, i.e., an agreement with a neighboring district.