Ashtabula Area City Schools

Special Transportation

The Ashtabula Area City Schools provide transportation to all students as a part of the general education programing offered. While most students with disabilities receive the same transportation services as nondisabled children, it is the responsibility of the IEP team to determine whether the student’s disability prevents the student from using the same transportation provided to nondisabled students, or getting to school in the same manner as nondisabled students. The IEP must include specific transportation recommendations to address each of the student’s needs, as appropriate.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION AS A RELATED SERVICE?

Decisions about a student’s need for transportation as a related service are made by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team. While most students with disabilities are able to access transportation available to all students, transportation as a related service may be required when the student’s program placement:

1. Is not in his or her home school

2. When the student requires modifications and accommodations to get safely to and from school

For students enrolled in special education, the IEP team including parents, will determine if a student needs transportation as a related service. Only students whose IEP Teams determine that they need home pick up or drop off services (a.k.a. curb-to-curb transportation), are eligible for this type of transportation.

PARENT CHOICE VS. IEP TEAM DECISIONs

If parents choose to place students at another school (not an IEP team decision) other than the student’s home school, transportation as a related service is not provided.

HOW THE IEP RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION

IEP Team discussion about transportation is documented in the IEP on the Offer of FAPE Services page, under the section “Special Education Transportation”. The IEP facilitator will check “Yes” or “No,” for transportation services, depending on the Team’s decision. If “Yes” is checked, the IEP facilitator must insert information into the box below the Special Education Transportation section. The information will include the rationale for transportation services and everything the student needs to ride the bus safely and successfully as decided by the IEP Team, which can include:

Modifications
Accommodations
Special seating
Specific equipment needed such as wheelchair lifts, safety vests (harnesses), car seats (note: car seats must be mentioned in IEPs for preschool students if they are necessary; they are not automatically provided), seat belt buckle guards.
Special instructions for medical needs
Special instructions for behavioral needs
Special instructions for developing emergency evacuation plans (see Emergency Evacuation Procedures section)
Additional adult supervision