Special Transportation

The Bottom Line

Prior to the IEP meeting, consider special transportation as an IEP team. Considerations include Health/Medical Condition, Social Behavior, Accessibility, Early Childhood Special Education, and Special Placement

If the team agrees to propose Special Transportation:

Obtain authorization
If special transportation was authorized — Propose it
If parent consent was obtained — Coordinate with transportation department

Go-To Tools

The handy tools that help you get the job done efficiently.

SpecialEducationTransportationAuthorizationForm.pdf

In all districts, this Authorization Form must be completed before special transportation is proposed at an IEP meeting.

Special Transportation - Dropdown Menu Items in SpEd Forms - Master Copy

These are the IEP dropdown templates in SpEd Forms. This document simply exists to make them easier to browse.

After it's been:

Authorized
Proposed
Added to the IEP
Parent consent obtained

...then a Transportation Information Form (TIF) is shared with the bus garage.

NOTE: Chisago Lakes has a unique procedure/template.

Copy TIF Template

This TIF template is used in East Central, Hinckley-Finlayson, North Branch, Pine City, and Rush City

Complete TIF Request (Chisago Lakes)

Per Chisago Lakes procedure:

Case manager completes a request and indicates that a student will be receiving special transportation for the first time.
Due process secretary creates a TIF, places it in a building-specific folder in Google Drive, and shares the file with the case manager.

IEP TV

What does it look like to discuss this topic during an IEP team meeting?

Check out these IEP meeting demo video(s) that model how to facilitate the conversation.

Explanation

The vast majority of special education students use the regular school bus system. Special transportation — the need for different vehicles, equipment, procedures, and/or staff — 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).

Situations Requiring Special Transportation

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 their special education services and there is not a regular bus. Learn more about how to document this.

Special Placement

The student is attending a special program to receive the special education services identified in their 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.

Procedure for Adding Special Transportation to an IEP

Obtain Authorization:

The case manager completes a Transportation Authorization Form and contacts the appropriate Services Coordinator for consultation.
The Services Coordinator reviews the Transportation Authorization Form and collects any additional information needed to make a determination.
The Services Coordinator makes a recommendation to the building principal and the Special Services Supervisor (SSS). For situations where a safety issue is involved, the principal will consult with the Services Coordinator and SSS to determine if interventions may be waived.
The Services Coordinator returns the Transportation Authorization Form to the case manager with a determination.

If Special Transportation was Authorized — Propose It:

During an annual IEP meeting or via the amendment process, the case manager discusses the proposal of adding special transportation to the IEP.
The case manager adds special transportation to the IEP, including a specific description of the special transportation supports needed and changing the MARSS transportation code:
1. - Use the '03-Disabled' code.
  - Code '06-Special Transportation' is only used for cases where the student demonstrates an immediate transportation need not related to the disability (e.g., becomes homeless, begins attending care and treatment program, etc.). Always confirm with your Special Services Supervisor before using the '06' code.
The case manager sends home an IEP and PWN reflecting the addition of special transportation.

Note: Special considerations for students who are open enrolled are described below.

If Parent Consent was Obtained — Coordinate with Transportation Department:

The case manager completes a Transportation Information Form (see below).
The case manager sends the completed Transportation Information Form and Transportation Authorization Form to the location specified by local district procedure. In most districts, the forms are sent directly to the transportation department. In some (e.g., Chisago Lakes), the forms are sent to a Due Process Secretary.
The case manager fills out a SpEd Forms Data Change Request Form to indicate the change in MARSS transportation code. This has to be completed to ensure proper reimbursement.

Guidance for Open Enrolled Students

MN school districts are not required to provide door-to-door special transportation for students who are open enrolled if they are not providing door-to-door transportation for regular education students who are open enrolled. If a student who open enrolls requires special transportation per their IEP, the district is obligated to provide the required special transportation from the district border to the school building.

According to the guidance from the federal register, OSEP, OSERS, and IDEA regulations, it follows that, under the 8th Circuit’s interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, IDEA, and Minnesota State law and rule, it is permissible for a school district to provide special education transportation to a student with a disability outside its borders. Specifically, under the guidance and IDEA, if a student’s IEP team determines on a case-by-case basis that special transportation across district borders is necessary to assist that student to benefit from special education, the school district may provide this special transportation and seek reimbursement under Minn. Stat. §§ 123B.88, subd. 6, 127A.47, subd. 7, and 123B.92, subd. 1(b)(4).

Step-by-Step Consideration Process:

Determine what type of transportation your district is providing to all open enrolled students. Some Districts are still providing door-to-door transportation for any open enrolled students, some are not. Determine if the district has adopted a board policy that establishes reasonable limitations to how far beyond its boundaries it provides regular and special transportation to open-enrolled students

**If your district is providing transportation door-to-door or from a neighborhood bus stop to any open enrolled student, then they need to continue to provide special transportation door-to-door to open enrolled students with disabilities.

Review IEP and determine any needed supports for border stop transfer. Specifically, how will the district insure that the student transitions safely from the parent/guardian vehicle onto the special transportation vehicle?
Document those supports, along with the need for special transportation, on the IEP Services page. If you are providing transportation outside of bounds, then need to document the justification.
Revise the Student’s IEP to specifically state how the Student’s special education transportation will be provided and include, as appropriate, supports to assist the Student in successfully transferring at the District border from the Complainant’s vehicle to the District bus due to the Student’s disability-related behavioral needs.
Change the IEP to say that transportation would not be covered outside of the bounds.

Documentation Examples

Early Childhood - Access to program only

This scenario is about students who need special transporation to get access to their program, and not due to another need related to their disability (e.g., in a wheelchair). Here's an example with screenshots!

Needs special transportation because of disability

This scenario is about students who need special transportation due a need related to their disability — in the areas of health/medical condition, accessibility, or social behavior.

Special Transportation section of IEP:

Check "Yes" on the box in SpEd Forms.

Health/Medical Condition: "Stella requires special transportation because she needs a small vehicle where the temperature can be regulated due to her medical condition. The temperature on the bus must be between 65 and 70 degrees."
Accessibility: "George requires special transportation because the regular bus is not accessible. He uses a wheelchair and needs a lift and wheelchair tie downs in order to access a bus."
Social Behavior: "Robert requires special transportation because the regular school bus currently presents excessive antecedents which increase the likelihood that he will exhibit disruptive or unsafe behaviors."

LRE section of IEP:

No additional documentation needed.

Needs special transportation - Parent opts out

This scenario is about students who need special transportation due a need related to their disability — however, the parent is currently opting to transport the student themselves.

PWN:

Additional Factors Relevant to District's Proposed or Refused Action: "While the district has proposed special transportation, the parent indicates that they are opting out of that service at this time and will drive the student to school themselves at this time. The district stands ready to provide special transportation upon notification from the parent that it is desired."
DO NOT complete a TIF (Transportation Information Form) because the district's transportation office does not need to set up a route unless the parent chooses to opt into the service.
If the parent changes their mind and opts into special transportation, then a TIF would need to be completed, but no PWN would need to be completed at that point because the service has already been proposed.

Special Transportation section of IEP:

Check "Yes" on the box in SpEd Forms.

Health/Medical Condition: "Stella requires special transportation because she needs a small vehicle where the temperature can be regulated due to her medical condition. The temperature on the bus must be between 65 and 70 degrees."
Accessibility: "George requires special transportation because the regular bus is not accessible. He uses a wheelchair and needs a lift and wheelchair tie downs in order to access a bus."
Social Behavior: "Robert requires special transportation because the regular school bus currently presents excessive antecedents which increase the likelihood that he will exhibit disruptive or unsafe behaviors."

LRE section of IEP:

No additional documentation needed.

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