Clover Park School District

Not all special needs students require or receive special transportation. To receive this service, a 504 plan, an Individual Education Plan (IEP), or students who fall under the McKinney-Vento Act/Foster Care must document a need for special transportation. The Director of Special Education IEP students must authorize special transportation, 504 students must go through the school to be approved. The Student Services Director must authorize transportation for students who fall under the McKinney-Vento Act/Foster Care.

Parent/guardian responsibilities and district procedures for students receiving special service transportation:

Meeting the transportation requirements of students with special needs requires a strong partnership between the student, parents, driver, transportation department and school. Below is a list of responsibilities established to ensure your student's transportation needs are met in a safe and timely manner.

1. Student Assistance: Corner stops will be used as student pick up and drop off locations. The parent/guardian is responsible for assisting his/her child to and from the bus. If conditions exist, where a student(s) must receive house service; wheelchair bound, or is non-ambulatory, the Transportation Department will establish a pick-up point as close to the residence as possible. This assures the safety of the student and the equipment.
2. Student Pick Up: Students being picked up at bus stop should be ready 5 minutes before their approximate pick-up time. The driver will not wait for the student to board the bus before continuing on the bus route. Drivers will not honk the horn, as it disturbs the neighbors. Drivers will discontinue service when a student receiving bus service fails to board the bus five consecutive days and notification to parents has been made. (See Absences/Discontinued Service)
3. Delivery of Students Home: A responsible person must be at the bus stop to receive any student receiving special service transportation unless other arrangements have been approved through the Transportation Department.
   Kindergarten students receiving special service transportation will not get off the bus unless met by parent or designated guardian or have a requested in writing for the student to be released by themselves.
4. Address/Alternate Address Changes: Parents/guardians will need to notify their students' school or special education office immediately of any change of home address or place of pick-up/drop-off. The Transportation Office requires five full working days to implement a change. The new service will beginthe sixth working day after the office received the change notification. All address/alternate address changes must be cleared by the Clover Park School District Transportation Office, NOT BY THE DRIVERS.
5. Route and Time Changes: Parents should be prepared for route and pick-up time changes at any time during the school year. Changes sometimes occur when students are added or withdrawn from the school program.
6. Illness: Students who are ill should not be sent to school, as they could infect other students. Parents should notify the Transportation Office of their child's illness as soon as possible.

   Parents are notified when their student becomes ill during the school day. After notification, parents are responsible for picking up the child. (Note: Anyone other than a parent/guardian must have written permission to pick the child up from school).

7. Absences/Discontinued Service: Parents must notify the Transportation Office and the child's school if a student will be absent, or if they intend to move.
8. Student Identification: Parents/guardians should have the name of their student's school and bus number when calling the Clover Park School District Transportation Office
9. Seatbelts: Seatbelts, when available, are to be used by all students. Drivers are responsible for checking compliance with this equipment.
10. Safety Devices: The Transportation Office may require use of a safety apparatus to control a student's activity or aggression. Parents/guardians of students needing these devices will be contacted by the Transportation Office or the Special Education Department prior to use of the device (unless an emergency safety concern exists).
11. Child Safety Seats: Convertible car seats or safety vests meeting all federal standards may be used by drivers for smaller students who cannot be properly secured by bus seat belts. Safety seats must be approved by a transportation office safety representative prior to use.
12. Pins: For safety reasons, attaching messages to student's clothing with straight pins is prohibited.