Special Transportation

Examples of students who may be eligible for Special Education Transportation include:

• Students with Profound Disabilities: This category may include students with severe cognitive, physical, or multiple disabilities that significantly impact their ability to participate in regular school activities.
• Pupils with Orthopedic Disabilities Using Wheelchairs or Requiring Lifts: Students with mobility challenges, such as those who use wheelchairs or require assistance with lifts, may be eligible for special transportation services to ensure safe and comfortable transportation to and from school.
• Students Enrolled in a Special Day Program at a Different School: Some students may be placed in Special Day Programs that cater to their specific needs, even if it is not located at their resident school. In such cases, transportation arrangements may be made to facilitate their attendance at the specialized program.

The goal of Special Education Transportation is to ensure that students with exceptional needs have access to educational opportunities while addressing their unique transportation requirements. This specialized service aims to support their inclusion in the educational system and enhance their overall learning experience.

If you have questions about your child's transportation needs, please contact your child's case manager.

The need for special transportation should be reviewed at each yearly IEP meeting, or more frequently if needed.

The following are some considerations the IEP team may use to determine whether a student needs transportation as a related  service:

• Can the student walk or safely access general education transportation to get to and from school? If the answer is yes, the student does not need special education transportation.
• The nature and extent of the student’s disability: consider the unique disability-related issues that affect the student.
• Any special procedures required by the student, and the effect of the needed procedures to access the regular bus and route.
• The need for specialized equipment: Some students with IEPs may require specific equipment to help them get to their destination safely. For example, a wheelchair lift, booster seat, and/or safety harness.
• The child with disabilities has severe behavioral problems impacting safe transportation, and transportation is an integral part of the school-based behavioral management program.
• The child with a disability is medically fragile and requires special handling and supervision, including specific direction from medical personnel. 
• Is the student's special education program directed by the IEP team to be located outside the student's regular attendance area?
• The child with a disability has a technology-dependent condition.
• The child with a disability rides to school with a nurse.

When IEP teams are considering the need for special education transportation, the team must consider supplementary aids and services to ensure the student’s needs are met in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).  It is essential to recognize that not all children with disabilities eligible for transportation services require the same level of specialized intervention. While it is understood that transportation may be difficult for a parent/guardian, it is important to note that special transportation cannot be considered for a parent/guardian's convenience; it is based on the disability needs of the student. To determine special education transportation needs, the IEP Team must consider the unique circumstances of the individual student. Transporting a student with special education transportation removes them from the opportunity to participate with their nondisabled peers and should be used only when necessary to meet the student’s needs.