par Banner

Application for Fee-Based Transportation (PDF)

Transportation Bell Schedule (PDF)

School Walking Routes in San José

Transportation Information

I. Eligibility

Q. Who is eligible for District transportation?
A. All students who meet the District eligibility criteria and complete the application.
a. Elementary students (K-5) are eligible, *except Hacienda, Hammer, or River Glen Elementary, if their resident address is more than 1.5 miles from their assigned School.
b. Secondary students (6-12) are eligible, if their resident address is more than 3.5 miles from their assigned school.
c. *Except magnet schools: Hacienda, Hammer or River Glen, unless these students qualify as Socioeconomic Status (SES) under the Voluntary Integration Program (VIP) and meet the distance eligibility.

Q. How is the distance measured?
A. The distance is measured by using the shortest walking path from your residence to and from the school utilizing the District’s Edulog System.

Q. Why do some students receive free bus service?
A. School districts are required by state law to provide free transportation for students who meet one of the following critera:
• Eligible for free meals program
• Eligible under District’s guidelines for VIP
• Eligible under special education services through an IEP, only if transportation is checked on the form C of the IEP
* Students who receive reduced price meals, will pay a reduced fee bus pass.

Q. Why did my neighbor’s student receive busing information, but my student did not?
A. There are many reasons why a student would be eligible for transportation. Please contact the Transportation Department at 535-6185 if you have any questions.

II. Fee Based Transportation

Q. Why are fees being charged for Transportation Services?
A. In May of 2005, the Board of Education approved charging fees for Home to School transportation beginning the school year 2005/2006 instead of eliminating Home to School transportation completely.

Q. To whom does this program apply?
A. All students who meet the eligibility requirements for transportation will receive a packet explaining the fee based transportation
process.

Q. Why did one of my students receive busing information , and others did not.
A. Busing information is mailed to all students who meet the district eligibility requirements and attend a district school. If you have further questions, please contact the Transportation Department.

Q. How do I apply for “fee based” school busing?
A. All families with students eligible for transportation services will receive an application packet. The forms are required to be filled out and returned to fiscal by July 17, 2009, for a student to receive a bus pass for first day of school service. If a student is new to the district, the Erikson or Burnett Enrollment Centers will provide the parent or guardian an application that will be submitted by the enrollment centers to Fiscal Services Department.

Q. Is my student’s bus pass transferable to another student?
A. No

III. Fees and Payments

Q. Is there any provision for a fee waiver?
A. Yes, when an approved transportation application is on file for free or reduced meal with the district and transportation the application form has been completed.

Q. How and where should I make payment?
A. Following the application process, an invoice will be mailed to the family. Payments are made via mail in the form of a check or money order only. Payments are sent to San Jose Unified School District, Attention Fiscal Services Department, 855 Lenzen Av, San Jose 95126.

Q. If I pay, is my student guaranteed a seat?
A. Yes, if your student is eligible and your student follows the safety rules on the bus.

Q. What happens if I do not pay the student transportation fees?
A. Your student will not be allowed to ride the bus.

Q. If I must pay a fee for my students to be transported, may I pay this fee in installments?
A. Yes, you may contact fiscal for details. Note: a processing fee will be applied to each installment.

Q. Why does it cost more if I choose to pay for my student’s bus pass in two installments rather than one payment?
A. The added cost is necessary to cover the district’s additional bookkeeping costs for handling multiple payments.

Q. What method of payment can I use to pay my student/student’s bus fee?
A. A check or money order will be accepted.

Q. May I pay half the fee if my student only rides the bus in the morning or the afternoon?
A. No, bus routes and stops are based on the total number of students using transportation.Our cost does not go down for a student who only rides the bus one way.

Q. Will there be a family cap on fees for transportation?
A. Yes, the family cap will be $672 if you pay for an annual bus pass in one payment for 2 or more students. Reduced fee family cap will be $336 for two or more students.

Q. Will there be refunds available?
A. Yes, prorated refunds will be issued only if transportation is cancelled due to a change of address, school, and/or routes are not convenient. A $50.00 Service Fee will be charged if you do not cancel transportation.

IV. Bus Passes

Q. Will bus passes be issued to all students who will be transported?
A. Yes, bus passes will be issued upon the receipt of application.

Q. Must my student carry the bus pass every day?
A. Yes, every student must show his/her bus pass to the driver upon request. Students will not be able to ride the bus without a pass.

Q. What if my student loses his/her bus pass?
A. Contact the transportation department for a duplicate bus pass. (Discuss consequences of loosing multiple bus passes)

Q. Why is the bus gone when my student gets to the bus stop at the time printed on the bus pass?
A. The AM information time is the scheduled time that the bus will depart from the bus stop at the time the bus pass was printed. The times can change and students on the bus will receive written notification of the change. It is recommended your student arrive 10 minutes early at the stop.

V. Courtesies

Q. Can students who do not meet district eligibility receive bus service?
A. Yes. That is considered a courtesy ride. Courtesy Transportation may be available for a fee once the routes are established.

Q. If I do not live in the District can my student ride the school bus?
A. Courtesy Transportation may be available at an established bus stop for a fee once the routes are completed.

VI. Miscellenous

Q. Our neighborhood has no sidewalks and has hills and curves. Can we have an additional bus stop so our students do not have to walk to the existing stop?
A. With the large number of streets and bus stops in our school district, it is necessary for some students to walk on roads that have hills, curves and/or do not have cement sidewalks. Please review the safety rules with your student.

Q. Can I have a bus stop closer to my home?
A. Bus stops are centrally located to serve all students.

Q. I have joint custody of my student. Can she/he ride two different buses?
A. Students with parents who have joint custody may ride two different bus routes. Both parent’s addresses must meet District eligibility.

Q. May a student ride a bus other than the one he/she is assigned to?
A. Yes, if you have qualifying joint custody. Or you may request a courtesy.

Q. Will the bus routes and bus stops remain the same?
A. Not necessarily. Your student will be notified of any changes in route schedules by their school bus driver prior to the change.

Q. Instead of paying a school bus fee, I will choose to transport my student to his/her school. Can my student ride occasionally home with a friend on the school bus?
A. No, students may not ride the bus without a bus pass.

Q. Can my student be suspended from the school bus?
A. Yes. Students may be suspended from riding the bus for behavior infractions. No refunds will be issued for behavior related suspension. (Refer to the Student/Parent/Employee Handbook for safety guidelines)

Q. What time does the bus arrive at school?
A. The buses usually arrive at the school 15 to 30 minutes before school starts. In time for some of the students to eat breakfast.

Q. My student stays after school for an activity. Do they have to show their bus pass?
A. Yes, every student must show his/her bus pass to the driver upon request. Students will not be able to ride the bus without a pass.

Q. Who do I Call?
A. Billing Questions: 535-6107
Routing Questions: 535-6185

© 2010 San José Unified School District . site by NetRaising