Transportation Q & A
In accordance with State Law, N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1, the District must provide free transportation to
(a) resident public high school students (grades 9-12) who live more than 2.5 miles from their school (a.k.a. remote from school),
(b) resident high school students who attend an in-state, non for profit, non-public school that is more than 2.5 miles but no more than 20 miles from where they live, and
(c) resident students classified with special needs who either live more than 2.5 miles from their school, or for whom transportation is required by their IEP.
The district routing program measures the shortest route along public roadways or public walkways between the entrance of the student's residence nearest such public roadway or walkway, and the nearest public entrance of the school which the student attends.
The Board offers Subscription Transportation to all non-remote students. See Question 7 and 8 below for more information on subscription bussing.
A student with an IEP that requires transportation to school will ride the bus from their home to school, even if he/she is non-remote. The student does not need to apply for subscription busing. The IEP must state in writing that the student is required to ride the bus to school.
Boards of Education in NJ are not required to provide busing for non-remote students, even for safety reasons.
Case law has long held that safety along public roadways and walkways is a municipal responsibility. It is for this reason that municipalities install sidewalks, traffic signals and signs, and paint crosswalks. Pursuant to Section 40A:9-154.1 of the New Jersey statutes, school crossing guards and traffic officers are appointed by the municipality and are under the supervision of the chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer.
Before the start of each school year, you must fill out and submit a request for Subscription Transportation found below. This application must be received by the district before the deadline set in the instructions. The Board of Education will make every effort to accommodate all requests, but will provide subscription busing on a space-available basis. The BOE is not obligated to satisfy all requests or to add new routes to satisfy requests for subscription bussing. If your application is accepted, then your student will receive a bus pass granting a seat on an assigned bus. He/she must ride on only the assigned bus throughout the school year.
The Subscription Busing fee for one student is $750 for the school year.
The fee for two students in the same family during the same school year is $1,200.
The maximum fee for a family with 2 or more students during the same school year is $1,200.