As a local education agency providing student transportation, Texas Preparatory Schools follows the Texas Education Agency Transportation Allotment Handbook compliance requirements regarding student eligibility and route services provided. Please click the link below to review the Transportation Allotment Handbook

Route Services

Bus routes are created to enhance student safety while maximizing vehicle efficiency and are available to students living outside of a two (2) mile radius from the home campus location. Stops are created to allow students to wait off the main roadway for the bus if at all possible. Stops are also created to minimize students walking in highly traveled roadways for long distances without sidewalks. Stops are not placed in dead end streets whenever possible to minimize bus accidents while backing (Backing is a very dangerous maneuver for a school bus). Stops are spread as far apart as criteria will allow in order to decrease the number of stops each bus will make on its route thus minimizing riding time for the students.

Elementary students may be required to walk up to 1/4 of a mile to a bus stop. Bus routes are designed to limit student ride time to no more than 45 minutes one-way if at all possible.

The above design criteria is for regular bus route student riders only. Texas Preparatory School stop locations are available to all Texas Preparatory School students.

Route services provided by each Texas Preparatory School campus will be disclosed at the campus level and can be found via our website when available.

Transportation Availability

Transportation routes may be established on a centralized community stop location in consideration for the following:

• start time of school day
• to limit the amount of ride time for students
• student rider and family accessibility

Texas Preparatory School regular route service bus stop locations are available to all Texas Preparatory School students.

Rider Request

Households are provided an opportunity to establish their student as a rider initially as part of the enrollment process via enrollment application and completion of Transportation Request Form.

Should a student come to be in need of transportation throughout the school year, that students parent/guardian must contact the home campus front office to make a request for the Transportation Request Form.

For regular route service locations, student riders can be added typically within three (3) school days from notice. The three (3) school day lead in allows time for processing and driver notification.

Adding Stop Locations

In extenuating circumstances in which it is deemed that a student does not have accessibility to an established stop location. A stop may be added. Adding a stop outside of the regular route service requires a minimum of five (5) school days and a maximum of seven (7) school days from notice to establish if possible.

Because regular route services are established to ensure the most availability for all students, adding stops often require stop time adjustments, parent and driver notification and processing. A new stop addition is not guaranteed until the household is notified by Transportation Director.

In order to inquire to adding a stop location, the student’s parent/guardian must contact the front office to request the Transportation Request Form.

Parent/Guardian Responsibility

Texas Preparatory Schools encourages parents to have kinder up to second grade students be escorted to and met at the bus stop after school by a responsible person. Parents/guardians, please remember to get out of your vehicles to meet your student(s) at the designated bus stop locations. This will allow our drivers to confirm that you or the responsible party is receiving your children.

Texas Preparatory School policies prohibit the bus driver from leaving a student unattended if there is no one there to meet the student at the stop. However, if communicated in the Student Transportation Request Form, you consent your 3rd-6th grade student to be dropped off at an Texas Preparatory School bus stop without parental/guardian supervision, this should not be a problem.

If the student does not have parent/guardian consent to be dropped off at a Texas Preparatory School bus stop without parental/guardian supervision and the parent/guardian is not at the bus stop, the student will be returned to the school, and it will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to meet the student there. Students returning to campus will be allowed to participate in after school activities as a drop-in under the on-campus After School Program. Drop in fees do apply and must be paid at pick up. Should a returned student not be allowed to participate in drop-in activities for non-payment of drop-in fees or late fees, the local police department will be contacted.

Transportation Discipline Policy & Procedure

Students and parents are reminded that all school rules extend to the transportation vehicle. It is important to remember that the bus driver is responsible for the operation of the bus and the safety and conduct of the students.

DURING TRANSPORTATION

Students must:

1. Stay seated at all times, unless otherwise directed by driver;
2. Wear a seat belt at all times [where applicable];
3. Not scream or talk in a loud voice;
4. Respect the driver and obey all directions;
5. Not throw items inside the bus or out the windows;
6. Keep hands, feet and other objects inside the vehicle;
7. Not eat/consume food or drinks in the vehicle.
8. Not tamper with vehicle equipment or exits;

TRANSPORTATION DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES

It is important that each student recognizes that their rider behavior can impact the overall safety for every passenger during transportation. With little room for numerous prompts and chances, each child will be allotted the following rule violation discipline procedure.

1st rule infraction: Verbal warning and parent notification via Class Dojo portal

2nd rule infraction: Parent notification via Class Dojo portal. Discipline report to Campus Director.

3rd rule infraction: Parent notification via Class Dojo portal. Discipline report to Campus Director. Campus Director Conference with Parent. Loss of transportation privileges for one week.

4th rule infraction: Loss of Transportation privileges for remainder of semester or expulsion.

It is important to note that a student will only be allowed three (3) total rule infractions prior to losing their bus riding privileges. A fourth infraction will mean loss of privilege for a semester or expulsion for the school year.

Serious Discipline Infractions will be escalated beyond regular Transportation Discipline Procedures and will result in immediate suspension/expulsion. Serious infractions that certainly warrant immediate suspension/expulsion from transportation privileges are but are not limited to the following:

1. Fighting/Bullying
2. Possession of weapons
3. Playing with Fire (matches or lighter)
4. Possession of illegal or prohibited substances
5. Vandalism to vehicle
6. Inappropriate touching/harassment of other students and or exposure

Parents should take time to review these policies and procedures with your student as the Texas Preparatory School relies on Parent partnerships to provide the safest environment for its students. If there are any questions to this please contact your school’s Campus Director.

COVID-19 Transportation Information (To be featured in Re-Opening plan page)

2020 – 2021 TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES UNDER COVID-19

Texas Preparatory School will continue to provide transportation under its regular transportation policy with modifications aligned with Texas Education Agency recommendations for COVID-19. Parents and guardians are encouraged to provide transportation for their student(s) if/when possible to reduce possible virus exposure on buses. Texas Preparatory Schools will follow COVID-19 guidance of Texas Education Agency regarding the transport of students for home to school and school to home services. Additional guidelines to be followed by students and staff are the following:

1. Each school bus may be provided an additional staff member to accompany the driver as a monitor
2. School Transportation will be limited to a maximum total of 13 seated rider positions per bus.
3. Students will observe assigned seating daily and remain seated throughout the duration of transport.
4. Students will be seated according to an every other row seat arrangement at 1 student per seat*
5. Each student will be temperature scanned prior to boarding all school transportation
6. Each student will be provided hand sanitizer upon boarding of school transportation
7. Each student will need to wear a face covering while boarding/disembarking and riding transport

* Students sharing same household will be allowed to share seat, up to 2 students per seat.

As a student rider, all regular bus rider safety rules still apply and any rider in violation may result in loss of bus riding privileges.

Transportation Access during COVID-19

To slow the spread of COVID-19 virus among bus riders, transportation will operate in a limited seat capacity. Due to this safety precaution, transportation routes will be limited to 13 seated positions. In order to provide this opportunity to the most in need students, certain modifications to route scheduling must be made in order to ensure timely arrival and availability to all in need.

To allow for the most accessibility, 2020 – 2021 Transportation Routes will be operated by assigned students with pick up/drop off locations being community centric. Texas Preparatory Schools will consider extenuating circumstances but does not guarantee any accommodations will be made outside of the established route and/or stop locations.

Due to COVID-19 it is important to note that Transportation is subject to change to accommodate necessary safety precautions, modifications and/or closures.

Cleaning/Disinfection of Transportation

Under the guidance of Texas Education Agency, Texas Preparatory Schools will maintain a regular cleaning and disinfection schedule for all student transportation vehicles. Per the recommendations of TEA, Texas Preparatory Schools will follow according to the below action plan:

• School Transportation operator will ensure the following regular cleaning/disinfecting of bus with bleach and water solution following all transportation route services:
• All bus handrails and common touchpoints will be regularly disinfected
• All seats and immediate seating areas such as interior body spaces and windows will be cleaned and disinfected
• Floors and ceilings of vehicles will be mopped and cleaned daily

When possible the school buses will ride with windows down to allow fresh air to circulate.

Transportation Students with Fever or Symptoms: Responsibility of Parent/Caregiver

For the Safety of Students and Staff, parents/caregivers are reminded that sick children exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should stay home. Students that appear to exhibit symptoms or have body temperatures higher than the approved 100.4 degree body temperature will not be allowed to board the bus.