Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, dedicated to answering common queries parents may have regarding general education transportation services. We understand that transportation is vital in ensuring students' safety and timely arrival at school. This introduction aims to provide a brief overview of how our transportation service works, eligibility criteria, safety measures implemented, and how to address any concerns or changes in transportation arrangements. Please read on to find answers to your questions, and feel free to contact us for further assistance.
Q. Will home-to-school transportation services for general education students be reinstated for the 2024-2025 school year?
A. Yes, but not all at one time. The district has identified schools with the highest number of low-income, homeless, and foster students and has prioritized service for all of our elementary schools. Transportation services for the remaining schools will be considered in subsequent years.
Q. Why was my school not considered for home-to-school transportation services for general education students?
A. The State of California has provided additional funding for home-to-school transportation services. As a condition of receiving the additional funding, districts must develop a Transportation plan. One of the main requirements of the plan is that the District has to describe how it will prioritize services for students in grades TK-6 and low-income families. The district has identified its students who are in TK-6th grades and are low-income, homeless, and foster students. This list was sorted by schools with the highest number of students who fit this criterion. Expanding to more schools will be considered as more resources become available.
Q. Is the bus service going to be provided free of charge?
A. Any student who qualifies to receive free or reduced-price meals (low-income), as determined by the National School Lunch Application, will receive free transportation. Also, all homeless, foster, and students with disabilities who qualify for transportation services on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be provided transportation free of charge.
Q. My school is one of the schools receiving home-to-school transportation services, but my family does not meet the low-income requirement. Can I purchase a bus pass for my student(s)?
A. Yes, the district offers home-to-school transportation services to elementary students who live one mile or more away from their home school but within their school boundary and middle school students who live two miles or more away from their home school but within their school boundary. Students who live outside their school boundary and attend an SMUSD school on an Intradistrict or interdistrict transfer do not qualify for transportation.
Q. My school is one of the schools receiving home-to-school transportation services. How can I sign my student(s) up?
A. A Transportation Request Form will be required for students to ride the bus.
Q. How much will a bus pass cost?
A. Students with an IEP and transportation services identified as a related service, homeless and foster students, and low-income students will not be charged a fee for transportation services. Bus pass costs for students who do not meet the criteria above are as follows…
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Round Trip Pass
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One Way Pass
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Coupon Book
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Per Household Riders
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Half Year
AM & PM
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Full Year
AM & PM
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Half Year
One Way
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Full Year
One Way
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*Book of 40 Rides
… See note below
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One Student Rider
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$400.00
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$725.00
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$200.00
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$400.00
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$80.00
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Two Student Riders
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$800.00
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$1,450.00
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$400.00
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$800.00
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$80.00
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Three Student Riders
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$1,000.00
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$1,812.00
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$500.00
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$1,000.00
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$80.00
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Four or More Riders
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Free
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Free
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Free
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Free
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$80.00
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*Coupon Book Notes: Coupon books can be used AM or PM and shared among same household student riders. A transportation identification card must accompany each coupon used which will be issued when a transportation request application is submitted for each student within the household.
Households with four or more children will pay for three bus passes of their choice, and the fourth and subsequent students will receive free bus passes.
Q. How long will my student(s) bus ride be?
A. We can not provide ride times as many variables determine them. However, you can track your student's bus with the "Here Comes the Bus" app, which can track the real-time location of your child's bus. Download the Here Comes the Bus app or visit https://herecomesthebus.com/
Q. Where is my student's bus stop location?
A. A bus stop list for each school will be available on the transportation application.
Q. What time will the bus arrive at the school each morning?
A. Bus routes will be scheduled to drop students off at 8:15 AM for the Elementary Schools, 7:45 AM for La Mirada Academy and Double Peak School, and 7:30 AM for Woodland Park Middle School. This allows TK students to arrive on time before their school day starts. School Breakfast will be served daily and available to all students. Campus supervision will also be provided.
Q: How was transportation eligibility determined?
A: Enrolled students are plotted on a map using the transportation routing software. The software measures the distances students walk from school to their homes. Elementary students who live more than one mile from their school or Middle School Students who live more than two miles from their school are eligible for transportation if they live within the school boundary.
Q. Where is the Transportation Department Located?
A. The physical address is 215 Mata Way, Building 6, San Marcos, CA 92069. We are behind the San Marcos Sheriff Station.
Q. My child missed the bus. Can I follow the bus in my car and allow my child to board the bus at another stop?
A. If your child misses the bus, do not attempt to chase, pass, or block the bus along its route for safety reasons. Any action taken to impede or delay the progress of an official school bus is unlawful.
Q. My son/daughter was leaving our front door this morning, and the bus driver did not wait.
A. Due to very tight time schedules and extreme traffic conditions, our drivers are trained in accordance with California Vehicle Code 22112, which states that the school bus driver shall activate the amber warning light system on approach to the school bus stop and immediately activate the flashing red light signal system and stop signal arm for the purpose of loading or unloading pupils. Therefore, when the bus is outside of your home or at the designated bus stop, the bus is has stopped traffic. If the bus driver can not see your child coming to the bus, they will assume they are not riding and continue along the scheduled route. Please have your child out at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
Q. Why doesn’t the Transportation Office call me when the bus is delayed in the AM or PM? Is there a place I can call for information about a bus delay?
A. School buses, like any form of mass transportation, are significantly affected by many uncontrollable factors. These factors may include weather, road repair/closure, traffic, etc. When a bus is running late, the students are instructed to wait at the bus stop and not to go back home unless the bus is fifteen minutes late or more. If the bus is late and the student rides it to school, he/she will not be counted as tardy. The Transportation Department strives to keep all our buses running as close to your student's departure times as possible. We do ask that the students arrive at least five minutes early to the stop location. While we would like to notify parents of late buses, we simply do not have the resources to do so. We do notify the school as soon as we confirm late buses. If the bus is running late, please contact the Transportation Department at (760) 290-2670.
Q. Who can authorize a bus stop change?
A. The executive director of transportation assigns Bus Stops (and rarely changes them). Laws and Safety determine the bus stop assignments. Bus drivers cannot add or change bus stops.
Q. If the bus has video cameras, can parents see the footage?
A. Parents may not view any bus video due to student confidentiality. San Marcos Unified School District Administration and Law Enforcement personnel are permitted to view bus video footage.
Q. My child "must be met" in the afternoon, but I missed the bus. Will the bus bring my student back to my drop-off location at the end of the route?
A. No. If a responsible designated person has not met the bus, the student will be considered undeliverable and will be taken to a designated receiving location or released to the custody of the local police agency. The parent will then be notified where the child has been delivered. The second such occurrence will be considered sufficient cause to review transportation services. If your student is capable of taking care of him/herself and may be left on his/her own upon return home, please check the appropriate location on the transportation form.
Q. What time will my child get home in the afternoon?
A. Parents must be available to receive their student when school is dismissed. Do not rely on a regularly scheduled arrival time since the absence of a few students on the bus may cause the driver to arrive at your home much earlier than anticipated. If you wish to designate some other responsible person to receive your child on a regular basis, this must be done in writing on the application form for transportation.