San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 3541.2
Transportation for Students with Disabilities
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
The Governing Board desires to meet the transportation needs of students with disabilities to enable them to benefit from special education and related services. The district shall provide appropriate transportation services for a student with disabilities when the district is the student’s district of residence and the transportation services are required by his/her individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 accommodation plan.
(cf. 0430 – Comprehensive Local Plan for Special Education)
(cf. 3540 – Transportation)
(cf. 6159 – Individualized Education Program)
(cf. 6164.4 – Identification and Evaluation of Individuals for Special Education)
(cf. 6164.6 – Identification and Education Under Section 504)
The specific needs of the student shall be the primary consideration when an IEP team is determining the student’s transportation needs. Considerations may include, but are not limited to, the student’s health needs, travel distances, physical accessibility and safety of streets and sidewalks, accessibility of public transportation systems, midday or other transportation needs, extended-year services, and, as necessary, implementation of a behavioral intervention plan.
The Superintendent or designee shall provide IEP teams with information about district transportation services in order to assist them in making decisions as to the mode, schedule, and location of transportation services that may be available to each student with disabilities. The IEP team may communicate with district transportation staff and/or invite transportation staff to attend IEP team meetings where the student’s transportation needs will be discussed.
Transportation services specified in a student’s IEP or Section 504 plan shall be provided at no cost to the student or his/her parent/guardian.
(cf. 3250 – Transportation Fees)
If a student whose IEP or accommodation plan specifies transportation needs is excluded from school bus transportation the district shall provide alternative transportation at no cost to the student or parent/guardian. (Education Code 48915.5)
(cf. 5131.1 – Bus Conduct)
(cf. 5144.2 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process (Students with Disabilities))
When contracting with a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency to provide special education services, the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the contract includes general administrative and financial agreements related to the provision of transportation services if specified in the student’s IEP. (Education Code 56366)
(cf. 6159.2 – Nonpublic, Nonsectarian School and Agency Services for Special Education)
The Superintendent or designee shall arrange transportation schedules so that students with disabilities do not spend an excessive amount of time on buses compared to other students. Arrivals and departures shall not reduce the length of the school day for these students except as may be prescribed on an individual basis.
(cf. 0410 – Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
(cf. 3541 – Transportation Routes and Services)
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that any mobile seating devices used on district buses are compatible with bus securement systems required by 49 CFR 571.222. (Education Code 56195.8)
(cf. 3542 – School Bus Drivers)
As necessary, a student with disabilities may be accompanied on school transportation by a service animal, as defined in 28 CFR 35.104, including a specially trained guide dog, signal dog, or service dog. (Education Code 39839; Civil Code 54.1-54.2; 28 CFR 35.136)
(cf. 6163.2 – Animals at School)
When transportation is not specifically required by the IEP or Section 504 plan of a student with disabilities, the student shall be subject to the rules and policies regarding regular transportation offerings within the district.
This Board Policy supersedes all previous Board Policies as to the subject matter contained herein.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
39807.5 Payment of transportation cost
39839 Guide dogs, signal dogs, and service dogs on bus
41850-41854 Allowances for transportation
48300-48315 Alternative interdistrict attendance program
48915.5 Expulsion of students with exceptional needs
56040 No cost for special education and related services
56195.8 Adoption of policies
56327 Assessment for special education and related services
56345 Individualized education program
56365-56366.1 Nonpublic nonsectarian schools or agencies
CIVIL CODE
54.1-54.2 Service animals
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
15243 Physically handicapped minors
15271 Exclusion from report
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1400-1482 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29
794 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 28
35.104 Definitions
35.136 Service animals
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
104.4 Equal opportunity under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504
300.1-300.818 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, especially:
300.34 Transportation defined as related service
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 49
571.222 Federal requirements for bus securement systems
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Special Education Transportation Guidelines
Pupil Fees, Deposits and Other Charges, Fiscal Management Advisory 12-02, April 24, 2013
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Protecting Students with Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities, 2009
Questions and Answers on Serving Children with Disabilities Eligible for Transportation, 2009
WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.