Education System

Student Transportation

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For assistance, call 850-245-9795 or visit https://www.fldoe.org/schools/healthy-schools/transportation/

Who is responsible for the transportation of students?

Section 1006.21, Florida Statutes, requires that school districts provide transportation to students in kindergarten through grade 12, as well as students in prekindergarten disability programs, when such transportation is necessary to provide appropriate educational opportunities that would otherwise not be available.

What's the state's role in student transportation?

The Department of Education provides transportation leadership assistance and training for school districts and other clients to ensure safe and efficient transportation of Florida's public school students. To provide an equitable distribution of transportation funds, the Legislature uses a funding formula outlined in s. 1001.68, Florida Statutes, which includes allocating a higher rate of funding for students with special needs, and adjusts for specific traits of the district, such as the cost of living and population density.

What categories of students are eligible for state transportation funding?

The state provides funding for the transportation of the following types of students enrolled in district schools.

Students who live two or more miles from the school.
Students in elementary schools whose grade level does not exceed grade 6, who are subjected to hazardous walking conditions as provided in s. 1006.23, Florida Statutes.
Students enrolled in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program or dually enrolled students transported from one school to another school.
Regardless of distance,
- students with disabilities with an IEP that requires transportation services;
- participants in teenage parent programs; and
- students enrolled in a state-funded pre-kindergarten program.

School districts and charter schools may provide student transportation to students who choose to enroll in a district-operated school or charter school as part of the controlled open enrollment process. Controlled open enrollment allows a parent from any school district in the state to enroll in a public school, including charter schools, which has capacity. School districts also may transport students due to locally defined unsafe walking conditions that do not meet the hazardous walking conditions in s. 1006.23, Florida Statutes.

How many students are transported each year, and how much is spent providing student transportation services?

The Department of Education collects and publishes a broad range of student transportation data statewide and by school district annually. This data includes the average number of riders transported, the number of daily buses and bus stops, and annual costs associated with student transportation.

Are districts using their buses in an efficient manner?

Bus efficiency is measured by average bus occupancy (the average number of students riding a bus per day), and varies by district. In general, a district with high average bus occupancy uses its buses more efficiently than a district with low average bus occupancy. The average bus occupancy index encourages greater bus utilization.

Updates

Changes to Student Transportation. The 2023 Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-16, Laws of Florida, which

provides additional flexibility to district school boards in the transportation of students by removing the blanket requirement that all regular transportation occur on school buses and authorizing the use of other vehicles;
removes the circumstances by which students may be transported in privately owned vehicles, allowing broader authority to district school boards to use such transportation. However, the district school boards must still authorize such transport on a case-by-case basis and with the authorization of each student’s parent;
requires district school superintendents to notify the district school board of any other vehicle used to transport students that does not meet all statutory requirements; and
maintains State Board of Education authority to adopt rules relating to transportation of students necessary to protect student health and safety.

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

A complete list of related OPPAGA reports is available on our website.

Where can I get more information?

Other Reports
Florida School District 2021-22 Transportation Profiles, Florida Department of Education
Florida School Bus Specifications,Florida Department of Education
Student transportation general instructions, published annually by the Florida Department of Education, are available on its website

Websites of Interest
School Transportation Management, Florida Department of Education
School Bus Safety, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
School Transportation News

Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

Chapter 1006 Part I E and s. 1011.68, Florida Statutes

Whom do I contact for help?

School Transportation, 850-245-9795, email: SCHTRANS@fldoe.org
Website