NONINSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS 8100
Transportation
The District may provide transportation to and from school for a student who:
- Resides three (3) or more miles, over the shortest practical route, from the nearest
operating public elementary or public high school;
- Is a student with a disability, whose IEP identifies transportation as a related service; or
- Has another compelling and legally sufficient reason to receive transportation services.
The District may elect to reimburse the parent or guardian of a student for individually transporting any
eligible student.
The District may provide transportation by school bus or other vehicle or through individual
transportation such as paying the parent or guardian for individually transporting the student. The Board
may pay board and room reimbursements, provide supervised correspondence study, or provide
supervised home study. The Board may authorize children attending an approved private school to ride a
school bus, provided that space is available and a fee to cover the per-seat cost for such transportation is
collected. The District may transport and charge for an ineligible public school student, provided the parent or guardian pays a proportionate share of transportation services. Fees collected for transportation of ineligible students shall be deposited in the transportation fund. Transportation issues that cannot be resolved by the trustees may be appealed to the county transportation committee.
Homeless students shall be transported in accordance with the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act and
state law.
In-Town Busing
In-town busing is defined as the busing of students within three (3) miles of their school. In-town busing
is a privilege the District can discontinue at any time. The Superintendent will establish guidelines under
which a student may request in-town busing.
Children in Foster Care
The [Superintendent] [building administrator] will appoint a Point of Contact (POC) to coordinate
activities relating to the District’s provisions of services to children placed in foster care, including
transportation services. The Superintendent, or designee, will inform the Department of Health
and Human Services who is the POC for the District. The District will collaborate with the
Department of Health and Human Services when transportation is required to maintain children
placed in foster care in a school of origin outside their usual attendance area or District when in
the best interest of the student. Under the supervision of the Superintendent/designee, the POC will
invite appropriate District officials, the Department of Health and Human Services POC, and
officials from other districts to consider how such transportation is to be arranged and funded in a
cost-effective manner.
If there are additional costs to be incurred in providing transportation to maintain a student in the
school of origin, the District will provide transportation to such school if:
The Department agrees to reimburse the District for the cost of such transportation;
The District agrees to pay for the cost of such transportation; or
The District and the Department agree to share the cost of such transportation.
Definitions
“Foster Care” means 24-hour care for children placed away from their parents, guardians, or
person exercising custodial control or supervision and for whom the Department has placement
care and responsibility.
“School of origin” means the school in which a child is enrolled at the time of placement in foster
care.
While “Best Interest” is not defined in ESSA, that determination shall take into account all relevant
factors, including consideration of the appropriateness of the current educational setting, and the
proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of foster care placement.
Legal Reference: § 20-10-101, MCA Definitions
§20-10-121, MCA Duty of trustees to provide transportation – types of transportation – bus riding time limitation
§20-10-122, MCA Discretionary provision of transportation and payment for this transportation
§20-10-123, MCA Provision of transportation for nonpublic school children
10.7.101, et seq., ARM Pupil Transportation
10.64.101-700, et seq., ARM Transportation
Policy History:
Adopted on: Feb. 12, 2002
Reviewed on: Dec. 12, 2017
Revised on: Jan. 9, 2018
