This ~5 minute video will walk you through bus registration for the 2024-25 School Year. You can also follow the written instructions by clicking here.
This ~8 minute video will walk you through logging in, a tour of the SchoolPass website, and where to find each task you need to complete to be ready to go for the school year. You can also follow the written instructions below.
It's time to log in to SchoolPass! While SchoolPass does have an app, we recommend using the website on a computer or web browser for these first changes (when in doubt, always try the website!).
The GDS SchoolPass portal is: https://gds.school-pass.net/ (bookmark this site!)
For families who have not used SchoolPass at GDS:
If you have never used SchoolPass at GDS, you should have received a Welcome Email from SchoolPass around August 1. That email will have you log in for the first time and change your password.
For families who have used SchoolPass at GDS:
Log in to SchoolPass as you would.
If you have any issues logging in, try resetting your password. If you continue to experience issues, please email SchoolPass@gds.org.
Now that you're logged in, you should familiarize yourself with the website. The top left corner should have your name - you can access your profile to verify your contact information and enter your car's license plate. You should add plates for any vehicles that may be picking up your child.
License plates should be entered with all numbers and letters sequentially, no need to indicate state or add spaces/dashes. For instance, a Maryland plate reading 4GF-9DY would be entered as 4GF9DY.
For families who have not used SchoolPass at GDS:
If you have never used SchoolPass at GDS, you will likely have a placeholder license plate. You can replace this with your car's license plate.
For families who have used SchoolPass at GDS:
Please verify that your license plate numbers are accurate to the vehicles you will drive to and from school to pick up your child(ren).
Now that you've updated your profile, let's make sure that the other drivers on your account are set up correctly. Many families have childcare providers, extended family members, and other people close to their family pick their child(ren) up. To ensure that your child is picked up smoothly (and that there are no carline backups), it's critical to have updated, accurate information in SchoolPass.
On the home page, either under Make Changes or under Parents/Drivers at the top, click the Add/Delete Drivers. You do not need to add emails or phone numbers, but it's most critical that we know their name and their cars' license plate.
PLEASE NOTE: Only "primary" parent accounts may do this action. This designation is assigned randomly and is part of the SchoolPass platform. If you do not see the options above, please try logging in using the account credentials of the other parent.
For families who have not used SchoolPass at GDS:
You will need to add any new drivers. If you don't have any new drivers, no other action is needed.
For families who have used SchoolPass at GDS:
You should remove any drivers (previous caretaker, neighbor moved away, etc.) that will no longer be picking up your children. Verify that existing license plates and information are still accurate.
Finally, we need to update the dismissal defaults for your child(ren). The dismissal default is how your child gets home from school on a given day. From the homepage, you can click on "Update Dismissal Defaults" to make changes. You must do this for each child in your family. No changes need to made for Arrival.
For families riding the GDS Shuttle Bus in the afternoons, you do not need to make changes to dismissal defaults. GDS will make those changes for you.
For families enrolled in GDS 360 extended day programming, you do need to make changes to dismissal defaults to 360.
You will have the option of Carpool or Activity (GDS staff must make bus changes):
Choose Carpool for getting home by car (if your child is traveling with another family, you should use "Move to Carpool" from the Make Changes screen and make it a recurring change).
Choose Activity if your child will be walking, biking, or taking public transportation home from school and selecting the appropriate activity for how your child will be getting home.
For Carpool your child will go to their grade level dismissal location. If they have an older sibling, please set their dismissal default to Activity and then choose the appropriate bell. 2nd for HS siblings or 3rd for MS siblings
Please note, if you would like to permit your Lower School student to self-dismiss, please email us at ImproveMyCommute@gds.org.
These short videos can help you with everything a GDS parent needs to know how to do in SchoolPass.
The dismissal default is the daily instructions for how your child will be getting home from school.
If your child is not dismissing how they normally do (i.e. walking to appointment near school, carpooling with a friend, biking home on a nice day), you can use the Move To tool to report day-of changes.
Use SchoolPass to report your child absent, indicate an early dismissal, or report a late morning arrival.