Transportation

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Department of Transportation
PARENT INFORMATION

Miami-Dade County Public Schools transports approximately 40,000 students every school day.  In order to accomplish this task, we operate approximately 850 school bus routes and maintain a fleet of 1000 school buses. 

The goals of the Department of Transportation: 

  • A safe ride for our students
  • On-time pick-up and delivery
  • Effective and Efficient Operation
  • When is transportation provided for public school students? 
    • Florida Statutes and Rules of the Florida State Board of Education establish when students are eligible for transportation on public school buses: 
      • Students who are attending their designated home/residence school and who live more than two (2) miles from the school will generally be eligible for transportation.  However, this rule does not apply to students in magnet/school choice programs or to most other students who are attending a school other than their designated home/residence school. 
      • Special needs students shall receive transportation in accordance with the provisions of the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or “504” Plan.  However, this does not apply to students who have been enrolled in magnet/school choice programs.  All such students will receive transportation on the same basis as regular education students, regardless of what may be included in an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or “504” Plan.
  • How far can my child be required to walk to his/her bus stop? 
    • Per Rule 6A-3.001 of the Florida State Board of Education, students may be required to walk up to one and one-half (1½) miles from their home to their assigned bus stop.  The Miami-Dade County Public Schools Department of Transportation makes every effort to keep walk distances between student’s homes and their bus stops as short as possible and practical.
  • How can I find information on my child’s school bus assignment? 
    • At the beginning of the school year, in August, the school district mails a post card with bus assignment information to every family with a student who is eligible for transportation and who has been given a bus assignment. 
    • Bus assignment information for students enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools is also posted on the district’s web site on the internet.  To access the information first go to www.dadeschools.net and then log on to the PARENT PORTAL. The top of the PARENT PORTAL screen has a link (click on BUS INFO) to the student’s bus assignment information. 
    • Bus assignment information on the PARENT PORTAL is updated every night.  Parents are encouraged to periodically check the information on the Parent Portal so they will always have the most current information on their child’s bus transportation. 
    • Parents who are not able to access the Parent Portal should call their child’s school for assistance.  All schools have access to the district’s transportation routing system, and should be able to answer most questions concerning a student’s eligibility for transportation and bus assignment.
  • I have a question or a concern about my child’s transportation.  Who should I contact? 
    • Parents should always contact their child’s school, when they have a question or a concern about their child’s transportation.  If needed, the school will get in touch with the appropriate staff at the Department of Transportation to make sure the question or concern is properly responded to.   This will help to ensure that all questions and concerns are answered as promptly as possible.

RESPONSIIBILITIES OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF TRANSPORTED STUDENTS
(reference Rule 6A-3.0121 of the State Board of Education)

  • Parents and guardians shall ensure the safe travel of their students to and from home and the assigned bus stop. 
  • Parents and guardians shall ensure that students ride only on their assigned school buses and get off only at the assigned bus stop. 
  • While waiting at a designated school bus stop, parents and guardians shall ensure that their students observe social distancing (at least 6 feet apart from others) and that their students are wearing a mask. 
  • Parents and guardians shall ensure that their students are aware of and follow the district’s adopted code of student conduct while students are at bus stops and provide the necessary supervision when the bus is not present. 
  • Parents and guardians are responsible to make sure their students are waiting at the assigned bus stop in accordance with the scheduled pick-up time.  Drivers will not wait for tardy students. 

BUS SAFETY RULES and RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRANSPORTED STUDENTS

  • Students riding on school buses are required to observe the Miami-Dade County School Board Code of Student Conduct policy, bus safety rules, and the following policies of the Transportation Department.
  • Students may ride only in their assigned bus and get off only at their assigned bus stop. 
  • Students MUST wear a mask at all times when they are on the bus. 
  • All students will be assigned to a bus seat.  Students, upon boarding the bus, must go directly to their assigned seat and sit down as quickly as possible.  Students shall not change or trade seats.  Students must remain seated in their assigned seat for the entire duration of the trip. 
  • Students must stand off the roadway while waiting for the bus to arrive. 
  • Students must cross the road only in front of the bus and only when all traffic has been completely stopped.  Students must NEVER cross the road in back of the bus. 
  • Students must enter and leave the bus at schools and at student stops in an orderly fashion.  This requires students to proceed at all times: 
    • Without haste and without loitering
    • Without crowding, pushing, or shoving, and
    • With each student observing social distancing (at least 6 feet apart at all times). 
  • School buses operated by Miami-Dade County Public Schools are equipped with lap belts.  While school bus drivers can not compel a student to use the lap belt, all students should fasten their lap belts and keep them fastened for the entire trip to and from school.  Students who do not comply with this safety rule shall be referred to the school principal. 
  • Students must pay attention to the school bus driver (and school bus aide, if assigned) and follow their instructions.  The driver and aide are responsible for the safety of the students entrusted to their care.
  • Students must remain quiet enough so as not to distract the driver’s attention from the road.  Students must, at all times: 
    • Refrain from shouting, yelling, and other boisterous activities
    • Refrain from unnecessary conversation with the driver
    • Refrain from any activity that worries or distracts the driver and which may put the student’s own safety and the safety of others at risk 
  • When crossing railroad tracks – students must remain absolutely quiet. 
  • Students may play music devices when riding on buses only when wearing ear buds or headphones. 
  • Students may not eat, drink, or smoke when on the school bus.
  • Students must NEVER extend hands, arms, heads, or any other parts of the body out of the windows of the bus. 
  • No littering.  Students must not throw or scatter waste paper, wrappers, bottles, or other items on the bus floor or out the windows of the bus. 
  • Students must not purposely mark, deface, damage, or destroy any part of the bus, the equipment on it, or the area surrounding the bus stop location.