Transportation

The Board of Education shall transport eligible students to and from school and school related activities in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1 et seq., N.J.A.C. 6A:27-1 et seq., and Board policy.  Transportation shall be provided only to eligible public and nonpublic  school students, authorized school staff members, and adults serving as approved chaperones.

Nonpublic school transportation or aid in lieu of transportation shall be provided for resident students in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 6A:27-2.1 et seq.

Charter or renaissance school transportation or aid in lieu of transportation shall be provided for resident students in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 6A:27-3.1 et seq.

The Board may provide transportation to and from school for public school students less than remote.

The Board will transport students certified by a physician as temporarily disabled regardless of the distance between their home and school.

Students with special needs shall be provided transportation in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1 et seq., and with their Individualized Education Program (IEP) pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:27-5.1.

The Board will approve all bus routes each school year.  Bus routes for all non-remote students who must walk to and from school along hazardous routes will be designated and approved by the Board.  The Board may consider, but shall not be limited to, the criteria outlined in N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1.5 in determining “Hazardous Routes.”

The Board will not be responsible for the transportation of nonresident students to or from school, except that transportation to and from school will be provided for homeless students; students residing in group homes; students residing in resource family homes; and students residing in shared custody homes pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:27-6.2, 6.3, 6.4, and 6.5 .

Transportation services will be provided in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:27-2.2(c)1, and this Policy to a nonpublic school located outside the State not more than twenty miles from the student’s home.

When the schools of this district are closed for inclement weather or other conditions, no transportation will be provided for students enrolled in any public, nonpublic, charter school, and/or renaissance school.

The Board shall utilize cooperative/coordinated  transportation services in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:39-11.1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 6A:27-10.1 et seq.  The Board shall utilize one of the agencies prior to determining to pay aid in lieu of transportation if in the prior year payments in lieu of transportation were provided.  The Board will provide to the cooperative/coordinated  transportation services any unique limitations or restrictions of the required transportation.

Vehicles used to transport students to and from school or school related activities shall meet standards, registration, and inspection requirements of the New Jersey Departments of Education (NJDOE), the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC), and any applicable Federal regulations.  The operation and fiscal management of the district’s transportation system shall be conducted in strict accordance with rules of the New Jersey State Board of Education and the NJDOE.

In addition to the provisions of any State law, rule, or regulation containing more stringent requirements, provided that those requirements are compatible with Federal law, and notwithstanding the provisions of any State law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, school bus operations in the State shall comply with the requirements outlined in N.J.S.A. 39:3B-27.