Business and Noninstructional Operations
Board Policy No. 3540
Policy Adopted: February 6, 2020
Revised: May 30, 2024
Revision Approved: April 24, 2025
TRANSPORTATION
The Governing Board desires to provide for the safe and efficient transportation of students to and from school as necessary to ensure student access to the educational program, including expanded learning opportunities programs, promote regular attendance, and reduce tardiness. In determining the extent to which the district will provide transportation services, the Board shall weigh student and community needs against the cost of providing such services. The Superintendent or designee shall recommend to the Board economical, environmentally sustainable, and appropriate means of providing transportation services. The district's transportation services may be provided by means of a joint powers agreement, a cooperative student transportation program, or a consortium, as permitted by law.
No student shall be required to be transported for any reason without the written permission of the student's parent/guardian, except in emergency situations involving illness or injury to the student pursuant to Education Code 35350 or the evacuation of students as necessary for their safety.
Transportation Plan
The Superintendent or designee shall develop a transportation plan in consultation with classified staff, teachers, school administrators, regional local transit authorities, local air pollution control districts and air quality management districts, parents/guardians, students, and other stakeholders. (Education Code 39800.1)
The transportation plan shall be presented to and adopted by the Board at an open meeting, with the opportunity for in-person and remote public comment, and shall be updated annually by April 1. (Education Code 39800.1)
The transportation plan shall include descriptions of the following: (Education Code 39800.1)
1. The transportation services offered to students
2. The prioritization of transportation services for low-income students, and students in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and any of grades 1 to 6, inclusive
3. The transportation services accessible to students with disabilities and homeless children and youth, as defined pursuant to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 USC 11301)
4. The manner in which unduplicated students, as defined in Education Code 42238.02, will be able to access available home-to-school transportation at no cost
Transportation Contracts
The Board may purchase, rent, or lease vehicles; contract with a common carrier or municipally owned transit system; contract with responsible private parties including the parent/guardian of the student being transported; and/or contract with the County Superintendent of Schools to provide necessary transportation services. (Education Code 35330, 39800, 39801)
In contracting for transportation services, the district shall comply with all applicable laws related to bids and contracts. (Education Code 39802, 39803)
Prior to contracting with a private entity for student transportation services, the district shall obtain written attestations from the entity that: (Education Code 39879)
1. The entity does not have any applicable law violations at the time of applying for the contract
2. The entity will maintain compliance with applicable laws for the duration of the contract
3. Under the contract, only drivers who meet the requirements specified in Education Code 39877 will work
4. The entity has on file all the reports and documents required pursuant to Education Code 39877 for the duration of the contract, including, but not limited to, updated, revised, or modified reports and documents, and that the reports and documents shall be available for inspection by the district
Any vehicle used to provide student transportation for compensation shall meet both of the following requirements: (Education Code 39879)
1. Be inspected every 12 months, or every 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, at a facility licensed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair to ensure that the vehicle passes a 19-point vehicle inspection, as adopted by the Public Utilities Commission and as specified in D.13-09-045, before allowing the vehicle to be driven, except for vehicles which are already subject to a statutory inspection program
2. Be equipped with a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher
Expenses and Fees
In lieu of providing transportation in whole or in part, the district may pay the student's parents/guardians either their actual and necessary expenses in transporting the student or the cost of the student's food and lodging at a place convenient to the school. In either case, the amount of the payment shall not exceed the cost that would be incurred by the district to provide for the transportation of the student to and from school. (Education Code 39806-39807)
The Board may charge a transportation fee to parents/guardians of transported students in accordance with Education Code 39807.5 and Board Policy/Administrative Regulation 3250 - Transportation Fees.
Safety and Monitoring
The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures to promote safety for students traveling on school buses.
The district may install a global positioning system (GPS) on school buses and/or student activity buses in order to enhance student safety and provide real-time location data to district and school administrators, and parents/guardians.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure the qualifications of bus drivers, in accordance with Administrative Regulation 3542 - School Bus Drivers, and related staff employed by the district; provide for the maintenance and operation of district-owned school buses and other equipment; and ensure adequate facilities for equipment storage and maintenance.
Policy Reference Disclaimer: These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
State Description
13 CCR 2025 Retrofitting of diesel school buses
5 CCR 14100-14103 Use of school buses and school pupil activity buses
5 CCR 15240-15343 Allowances for student transportation
5 CCR 15253-15272 District records related to transportation
Ed. Code 35330 Field trips and excursions; student fees
Ed. Code 35350 Authority to transport pupils
Ed. Code 39800 Powers of governing board to provide transportation to and from school
Ed. Code 39800-39860 Transportation services
Ed. Code 39801 Contract with County Superintendent of Schools to provide transportation
Ed. Code 39802-39803 Bids and contracts for transportation services
Ed. Code 39806 Payments to parents in lieu of transportation
Ed. Code 39807 Food and lodging payments in lieu of transportation
Ed. Code 39807.5 Payment of transportation costs by parents
Ed. Code 39808 Transportation for private school students
Ed. Code 39877-39878 School bus driver requirements
Ed. Code 39879 Private transportation provider requirements
Ed. Code 41850-41851.1 Allowances for transportation
Ed. Code 41860-41862 Supplemental allowances for transportation
Ed. Code 42238.02 Local Control Funding Formula
Ed. Code 45125.1 Criminal records summary; employees of contracting entity
Ed. Code 52311 Regional occupational centers; transportation
Ed. Code 56026 Student with a disability; definition
Gov. Code 3540-3549.3 Educational Employment Relations Act
Pen. Code 637.7 Electronic tracking devices
Veh. Code 2807 School bus inspection
Veh. Code 4854 Alternatives to conventional license plates
Management Resources Description
Court Decision Arcadia Unified School District v. California Department of Education (1992) 2 Cal. 4th 251
Public Utilities Commission Order Order Instituting Rulemaking on Regulations Relating to Passenger Carriers, Ridesharing, and New Online-Enabled Transportation Services, September 2013
Website Department of Motor Vehicles
Website Public Utilities Commission Website Bureau of Automotive Repair
Website CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services
Website California Air Resources Board Zero Emission School Bus and Infrastructure Program Website California Energy Commission
Website CSBA
Cross References
Code Description
0410 Nondiscrimination In District Programs And Activities
3000 Concepts And Roles
3100 Budget
3100 Budget
3250 Transportation Fees
3250 Transportation Fees
3311 Bids
3311 Bids
3312 Contracts
3510 Green School Operations
3511 Energy And Water Management
3511 Energy And Water Management
3512 Equipment
3512-E(1) Equipment
3514 Environmental Safety
3514 Environmental Safety
3515.6 Criminal Background Checks For Contractors
3516 Emergencies And Disaster Preparedness Plan
3516 Emergencies And Disaster Preparedness Plan
3541 Transportation Routes And Services
3541.1 Transportation For School-Related Trips
3541.1-E(1) Transportation For School-Related Trips
3541.1-E(2) Transportation For School-Related Trips
3541.2 Transportation For Students With Disabilities
3542 School Bus Drivers
3543 Transportation Safety And Emergencies
4112.4 Health Examinations
4112.42 Drug And Alcohol Testing For School Bus Drivers
4112.42 Drug And Alcohol Testing For School Bus Drivers
4212.4 Health Examinations
4212.42 Drug And Alcohol Testing For School Bus Drivers
4212.42 Drug And Alcohol Testing For School Bus Drivers
4231 Staff Development
4312.4 Health Examinations
4312.42 Drug And Alcohol Testing For School Bus Drivers
4312.42 Drug And Alcohol Testing For School Bus Drivers
5116.1 Intradistrict Open Enrollment
5116.1 Intradistrict Open Enrollment
5117 Interdistrict Attendance
5117 Interdistrict Attendance
5131.1 Bus Conduct
5131.1 Bus Conduct
5141.22 Infectious Diseases
5141.22 Infectious Diseases
5142.2 Safe Routes To School Program
5142.2 Safe Routes To School Program
5148 Child Care And Development
5148 Child Care And Development
5148.2 Before/After School Programs
5148.2 Before/After School Programs
6142.4 Service Learning/Community Service Classes
6173.1 Education For Foster Youth
6173.1 Education For Foster Youth
6178.2 Regional Occupational Center/Program
6181 Alternative Schools/Programs Of Choice
6181 Alternative Schools/Programs Of Choice