Special Education Services

Who Qualifies for Transportation

For students identified for special education services, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team will determine if the student requires transportation.

How the Process Works

Transportation Services must receive complete, accurate information regarding the student’s needs to ensure safe transportation service. The Transportation 1066 Form is required before transportation service begins. The request for transportation is submitted by the student’s Special Education Teacher to the Student Equity and Opportunity Office. Once processed, the form is then submitted to Transportation Services.

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) all personal information regarding students is strictly confidential. Pertinent health care information (including Behavior Intervention Plan) must be provided to Transportation staff for safe transport.

Once the Transportation 1066 Form is received, the routing department will determine the mode of transportation. If the student is not routed on a yellow bus, the student will be placed on the third-party vendor. Transportation is provided for the student with an IEP as a related service. Family members (incl. siblings) of transportation-eligible students serviced by a third-party vendor may not ride along under any circumstances, unless previously approved. Non-eligible siblings can submit a request for transportation via the Exception Request Process.
Once a need for transportation is established and the request is approved, it will take up to 10 business days for Transportation Services to make the necessary arrangements for the appropriate mode of transportation.

Have a question, comment or concern? Call 720-423-4600 now. Our Customer Service Center is ready to help.

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How it works

Below is a step-by-step outline of how transportation is arranged for students with special needs that have transportation as a related service. In order to provide the best possible service, it is important that the steps below are completed.

Step One

The family must meet with a school representative, or the Special Education Instructional Specialist to complete the Transportation 1066 Form. This form is required whenever transportation services are requested and/or updated.

Please note: Families should not reach out to Transportation Services directly to arrange Special Education Transportation. This will only delay arranging services.

Step Two

The completed Transportation 1066 Form is sent to the correct specialist within the Office of Student Equity and Opportunity. The specialist will review the form to ensure all necessary information is correct and up-to-date, and then submit to Transportation Services.

Please note: A Transportation 1066 Form with missing or incomplete information will be returned to the school representative who complete the from and will results in delays in arranging transportation services.

To ensure student safety, Transportation Services needs a minimum of 10 business days to process all Special Education Transportation. One processed, transportation service will begin on either a Tuesday or Thursday.

Step Three

Transportation Services begins routing the student using the required Transportation 1066 Form received from the Office of Student Equity and Opportunity Specialist. Based on the student’s unique needs as communicated on the 1066 Form, the routing team determines the safest mode of transportation: yellow bus or third-party vendor.

Yellow Bus/Third-Party Vendor Mode

Yellow Bus stop placement is determined using the following criteria:

  • The nearest general education bus stop.

  • The nearest corner.

  • The safest curb-to-curb location near the home.

This location assignment decision is based on the individual needs of the student resulting from his/her disability and abilities.

  • Third-Party Vendor stop placement is the safest curb-to-curb location near the home.

If the transportation service is not utilized for more than five consecutive days without prior notification to either Transportation Services Dispatch or the third-party vendor, the service will be deactivated.

Once transportation is arranged, notifications will be sent prior to the start of transportation commencing.

Yellow Bus:

  • Notifications will be sent by the routing team to the student’s school.

  • Bus information will be uploaded and made available via the student’s record in Parent Portal.

Third-Party Vendor:

  • Notification will be sent by the routing team to the student’s school and the family if they are new to the third-party vendor transportation.

  • The third-party vendor will set up a family meeting to go over how transportation will proceed.

Family's Responsibility

Reporting Student Absences:

If your student is a bus rider and is not attending school that day, contact DPS Transportation (720-423-4600) at least one hour prior to pick up. When calling, provide your student’s name, student ID number and route number. Also, identify yourself and provide a phone number for verification.

If your student rides with EverDriven (Formerly ALC) and is not attending school that day, contact their dispatch hotline (855-292-4364, option 1) at least two hours prior to pick-up.

If your student rides with HopSkipDrive and is not attending school that day, call (844) 467–7547.

For absences exceeding two days, please email Email Transportation or call 720-423-4600.

How to report Information Changes:

To report changes regarding your student’s information such as a new address, phone number, etc., please start by notifying your student’s teacher and the school’s front office. Please give 10 full school days notice for changes in your student’s pick-up or drop-off location to allow time to make scheduling adjustments.

Reporting Student Absences:

  • Have your student ready to board the bus 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. The driver will not wait beyond the scheduled pick-up time. The driver will neither “honk” the horn nor knock on your door.

  • Students are not permitted to eat or drink while being transported. Exceptions to this rule are made for students who have a medical condition requiring regularly scheduled intake of food or liquid. This information must be noted on the Transportation 1066 Form.

  • All students who receive curb-to-curb service or are required to have hand-to-hand transfers must have a parent at the bus stop at all times, unless otherwise noted. Siblings and/or teenagers, 15 years old or younger cannot be an adult substitute.

    • Curb-to-curb: The driver will not release a student unless the parent/guardian comes to the bus or the driver sees the parents at the door and is sure someone is home.

    • Hand-to-hand transfer: the parent/guardian must come to the bus/vendor to receive the student.

  • Encourage your student to practice proper behavior while being transported and obey the department’s safe riding rules.

  • If behavior problems occur on the bus, the driver is instructed to work with the student and report to his/her supervisor, the parents and teacher to resolve the problem.

  • If the student’s behavioral issues persist and it is determined a behavior plan is required, the school staff will be asked to develop a Behavior Intervention Plan in collaboration with the parent(s), student (if appropriate), school staff, and appropriate transportation staff.

What happens when no one is home:

It is the responsibility of the parent, guardian or person designated by the parent, to meet the bus/vehicle at the scheduled drop-off time each afternoon to take responsibility of the student. The bus/vehicle will not wait after the scheduled drop-off time before continuing to the next stop.

The driver is not permitted to leave the student unattended at home in the afternoon unless it is reflected on the student’s IEP. Failure of the parent or guardian to have a responsible person meet the bus/vehicle will be handled in the following manner:

  • The driver will radio the transportation office to report no one is home to receive the student.

  • The dispatcher will attempt to reach a parent or other individual designated in the student information system, Infinite Campus, as the Emergency Contact person / or on the Transportation Information Form.

  • The dispatcher will instruct the driver to return the student to school or continue on the route. If possible the bus will return to the stop after they have completed the route.

  • If a return trip to the stop is possible, the driver will wait five (5) minutes before returning the student to the transportation terminal or school.

  • If a return to the stop is not possible, arrangements will be made for the student to be brought to the transportation terminal or returned to school.

  • If the student is transportation to the Terminal, either by yellow bus or via ALC, the dispatcher will notify DPS Safety.

  • Once the student has been returned to school or to transportation, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to pick-up their student at that location.

  • If the parent or guardian cannot be reached within one hour after the scheduled drop-off time, the Denver Department of Human Services and/or local police will be contacted. NOTE: Denver Department of Human Services will be notified immediately after the third occurrence. Transportation will be suspended until the parent/guardian provides written documentation assuring that a responsible adult will be available to meet their student on a regular basis.

Additional Information

Equipment Used

Students using mobility seating equipment (wheelchairs, scooters, etc.) must have the device equipped with a buckle-type belt and/or student safety vest in good repair and properly fitted.

Student Safety Restraint Systems – There may be a need to secure your student using additional assistive equipment such as safety vests/crotch straps and Besi integrated seats. Transportation staff will determine which assistive equipment provides the most appropriate securement for your student.

Students using a safety vest will keep the vest with them at school and home. Safety vests must be placed on the student prior to pick-up. At the end of the school year return the vest to the driver for cleaning and storage. Families are responsible for maintaining the safety vest. A $100 charge will be billed to the family for lost or damaged safety vest.

Driver/Paraprofessional Training

Drivers and paraprofessionals who transport students with disabilities receive additional training to assist them in performing their duties safely. This training includes information about the law, general awareness, confidentiality requirements, emergency evacuation procedures, medical needs, equipment operation, health concerns and more.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

Driver and paraprofessionals conduct emergency evacuation drills twice a year and use both front and rear doors. All students participate in the drills, although some non-ambulatory students remain in their mobility aids (wheelchairs) and are evacuated via the bus lift. In a real emergency, students may be removed from their chairs and carried out the exit.

Emergency evacuation plans are also developed for summer extended school year routes, although actual drills are not conducted.