Nicole: My children have bus service in their IEP’s. We lost our in-home childcare and will need to put them in a YMCA program (that the bus passes on the way to and from our home) for TWO days per week. School is refusing to bus to 2 different locations. They say pick up and drop off has to be the same all 5 days per week. Is this correct?
Nicole –
It’s generally up to the school district to make their own transportation policies. The rule you describe is a pretty common one for a district to have, and would be okay in most circumstances.
Does the school have this same policy for ALL children who use transportation, including those without disabilities? If the rule is ONLY for children with transportation in their IEP, that is one instance where the policy not be okay.
If your child requires the YMCA program because of his/her disability, or his/her disability prevents him/her from attending that program every day after school, you could ask for a reasonable accommodation to the policy.
I would disagree that it’s legal. It’s a reasonable accommodation. I would ask for Prior Written Notice of the decision with details as to why they are denying this location for drop off, and then exercise your right to file a State Complaint or Due Process.
I just called the School Bus Transportation and asking if it is possible Monday to Wednesday same Pick Up and Same Drop Off and on Thursday and Friday same thing and we are on IEP Program, Different location but both on the same town and they denied me. What should I do i am having a family issues that’s the reason. can I appeal that on the board please give me any suggestion
Every district is to have a procedure for taking complaints up the ladder, and to the Board.