711.01 - Student School Transportation Eligibility

Elementary and middle school students living more than two miles from their designated school attendance centers and high school students living more than three miles from their designated attendance centers shall be entitled to transportation to and from their attendance center at the expense of the school district.

Transportation of students who require special education services shall generally be provided as for other students, when appropriate.  Specialized transportation of a student to and from a special education instructional service is a function of that service and, therefore, an appropriate expenditure of special education instructional funds generated through the weighting plan.

Transportation of a student to and from a special education support service is a function of that service, and shall be specified in the individualized education program or the individualized family service plan (IFSP).  When the IEP team determines that unique transportation arrangements are required and the arrangements are specified in the IEP or IFSP, the school district will provide one or more of the following transportation arrangements for instructional services and the AEA for support services:

• Transportation from the student's residence to the location of the special education and back to the student's residence, or child care placement for students below the age of six.
• Special assistance or adaptations in getting the student to and from and on and off the vehicle, en route to and from the special education.
• Reimbursement of the actual costs of transportation when by mutual agreement the parents provide transportation for the student to and from the special education.

The school district is not required to provide reimbursement to parents who elect to provide transportation in lieu of agency-provided transportation.

A student may be required, at the board's discretion, to meet a school vehicle without reimbursement up to three-fourths of a mile.  The board may require the parent to transport their children up to two miles to connect with school bus vehicles at the expense of the school district when conditions deem it advisable.  It shall be within the discretion of the board to determine such conditions.  Parents of students who live where transportation by bus is impracticable or unavailable may be required to furnish transportation to and from the designated attendance center at the expense of the school district.  Parents, who transport their children at the expense of the school district, shall be reimbursed at the rate per mile set by the state. 

Transportation arrangements made by agreement with a neighboring school district shall follow the terms of the agreement.  Students, who choose to attend a school in a school district other than their resident school district, shall provide transportation to and from the school at their own expense.

 

 

Legal Reference:  20 U.S.C. §§ 1401, 1701 et seq. (1994).
                                      34 C.F.R. Pt. 300 et seq. (2002).
                                      Iowa Code §§ 256B.4; 285; 321 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 41.98; 43.

Cross Reference:  501.17 Homeless Children and Youth
                                      507.8   Student Special Health Services
                                      603.3   Special Education
                                      711      Transportation

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                            01/19/2015
                                                                                            01/20/2020