Special transportation includes the need for different vehicles, equipment, procedures, and/or staff. The vast majority of special education students use the regular school bus system. Special transportation is provided when the IEP team determines that the student requires it in order to benefit from their special education programming. There is a detailed process for adding special transportation to the IEP, and steps must be taken prior to the IEP meeting if you are considering the addition of special transportation (see below).

Health/Medical Condition

A health/medical condition exists which involves the safety of the child or others. Health issues may include seizures, oxygen equipment, fatigue that causes the student to fall asleep on the bus, assistive devices needed to maintain a sitting position, communication issues (hard of hearing, visually impaired, nonverbal), or assistance in walking up and down stairs.

Social Behavior

The student's bus conduct requires a different mode of transportation. This will only be offered after the school psychologist and/or Social Behavior Services Coordinator design, implement, and document two interventions for the regular bus.

Accessibility

The regular bus is not accessible for the child.

Early Childhood Special Education

The child needs to attend an early childhood program to receive his/her special education services and there is not a regular bus

Special Placement

The student is attending a special program to receive the special education services identified in his/her IEP (out of district or within district) approved by the Special Services Supervisor and there is not a regular bus transporting to this specially designed program.