School busing will begin on September 21 for students. In addition, MetroCards are available for students in blended or in-person learning. Please review the following transportation updates and take appropriate action:
Students Participating in Remote Learning: Students who have opted for remote learning will not be provided with school bus service. Families who opt back into blended learning for the second quarter will need to contact their school to request transportation.
School Bus Pick-up and Drop-Off Times: Bus pick-up and drop-off times for the 2020–21 school year will be based on approved session times from the 2019–20 school year. Bus pick-up and drop-off times will be adjusted to align to schools’ actual session times over the course of the fall. Please ensure that all students arriving prior to your school’s start time, or after your school’s end time, are appropriately supervised at all times.
Update Student Address Information in ATS: Schools should ensure that all students’ address information are updated in ATS. If a student requires specialized transportation, please reach out to your BCO transportation liaison in order to request transportation.
Update Transportation Screens in ATS: Students requiring stop-to-school transportation should have an assigned bus stop in the ATS TLST screen, so that students appear on the ridership report and have route assignments. Special education students new to transportation will need a transportation request in the ATS STRE screen. Schools should work with their BCO transportation liaison to update these transportation records.
Removing Transportation Records in ATS: Students who do not require a MetroCard or school bus service should be removed from the ATS TUTD screen or by contacting your BCO transportation liaison. Similarly, for students with an IEP mandating transportation who no longer require and/or opt out of transportation, please contact your BCO transportation liaison to have their transportation request removed.
School Bus Route Information in NYCSA for Families: Families should register for a NYCSA account in order to receive their child’s transportation assignments; schools may also view this information in Student Profile. Please note that route letters will not be mailed this school year; you should ensure that families who opted for blended learning know their child’s specific schedule and programming model.
Schools may export routing details in a bulk file through the Ridership Information System. The Ridership Information System requires a separate log-in username and password which differs from DOE Outlook credentials. If you need your username or password, please contact your BCO transportation liaison.
Coordinate with Assigned Bus Company: Given the complexity of student schedules this year, schools are encouraged to work with their BCO transportation liaison to meet with their assigned bus company to discuss expectations and plan bus drills. This should include providing the bus company with information about which students are expecting transportation on any given day.
Students Who Ride the School Bus on Non-Scheduled Days: Schools will be required to ensure that busing students are provided with their blended learning schedules and to advise families that students should only board the bus on their scheduled days. Please note that students who show up for the school bus on the wrong day will not be turned away from riding the school bus. Instead, students who arrive to school on non-scheduled days via school bus service should be brought to a designated area in the school. The school should then notify the student’s parent/guardian to pick up their child. If this is not possible, the student must stay at his/her school until the end of the school day for a return trip home on the school bus.
MetroCards Delivery and Eligibility: As noted in the September 3 edition of Principals Digest, all schools should have received shipments of MetroCards to distribute to requesting parents/guardians of students (pre-K through grade 6) participating in blended or in-person learning.
Distribution of MetroCards for Parents/Guardians of Students in Temporary Housing (STH): According to Chancellor’s Regulation A-780, parents/guardians of students in temporary housing (STH) are entitled to free transportation to accompany their child to and from school; in New York City, this transportation is a MetroCard. Parent/guardian MetroCards for STH students in grades 3-K through 12 will be available upon request by the parent/guardian who has a student in grades 3-K through 12, at their child's school. Schools should arrange STH MetroCard pick-up with the requesting parent/guardian and have him/her sign the MetroCard log upon pickup. Please note that parents/guardians of students in remote-only can also request MetroCards provided that their child is participating in the Learning Bridges program; and/or the family needs travel to a DOE meal location to obtain free meals. If your school is in need of additional STH MetroCards, email publicschoolmetrocards@schools.nyc.gov.
For addition information, see this transportation guidance. For questions, contact your BCO transportation liaison.
