For children being transported by Head Start, Head Start of Lane County will provide regular and safe transportation of children from home to school and back. A bus monitor will be present at all times
Transportation Manager (TM) will establish all bus routes at the beginning of each program year based on established routes, parent needs and classroom transportation enrollment. Changes to these routes must always be approved by the TM.
All bus drivers will report to the site 15 minutes prior to each route, to ensure timely departure and arrival at school and at home during drop off.
If a family chooses to attend another site other than the one designated, they may choose to self transport.
Each Regional Manager (RM) will have a plan to ensure that two staff persons will remain at the site until the last bus has returned to the Head Start site and all self transports are picked up.
The information letter about the required 30 day transportation training will be shared with all Head Start / Early Head Start parents.
If there is a new request/new child requesting busing, the Transportation Change form is not needed. If there is an opening, fill the spot with priority status (504, IFSP, or IP-Individualized Plan); if no openings, the child goes onto the waiting list. The RA will inform TM and driver. To ensure each family understands the Head Start policy regarding transportation, the policy will be explained at registration and at parent orientation.
Families will be informed of the scheduled pick-up/drop-off times. They will be informed of any changes on a regular basis. Parents will also receive the 10 minute form to explain the pick-up/drop off procedures. Families will arrange for someone to deliver or pick-up the child from the designated stop. This person is expected to be at the stop 10 minutes before the scheduled time and to remain (as needed) until 10 minutes after the time. Forms will be signed at Stagger Start.
If the bus arrives before the 20 minute window, the Bus Driver will wait at the stop until the appropriate pick-up/drop-off time and the Head Teacher will make a courtesy call. If it becomes apparent that the bus is going to be at the expected stop more than 10 minutes early or late, the Head Teacher will notify site staff.
The staff will tell families of the change.
Children will only be released to authorized personnel.
Children will be dropped off at the designated site.
In an emergency situation, children may be released at a drop off other than their regular stop. Only with prior approved arrangements.
Any changes made to the emergency contact list must be either faxed, scanned, or a handwritten note signed by authorized adult. This note may not be handed at time of drop off/pick up. Note must be received prior to bus route starting.
Once note is received, changes will be made in WebCAF and an updated emergency contact form will be printed and given to bus drivers and updated monthly.
When a child is not to ride the bus as regularly scheduled, the parent should call the site at least 30 minutes prior to the bus leaving with other instructions. Notes will be given to parents with busing information.
If no one comes to receive the child from the home after the bus has waited for 2 minutes, the Head Teacher will first call the parent and secondly, the next on the emergency contact list, to say that the bus is outside.
If no one answers the call after 2 minutes, on the 3rd minute, the Head Teacher will call the site to inform them that the child is being returned. The site will contact people on the Emergency Contact list to try to arrange for someone to come to get the child.
The Head Teacher will notify the TM via phone call or text with the child's WebCAF number.
The TM will document in WebCAF.
The incident will be documented as a 'failure to receive' and the appropriate steps will be taken. After the 3rd 'failure to receive', the TM will confer with RM, and a letter will be sent to parent explaining the importance of the 10 minute window on drop off/pick up. If they cannot comply, they may lose busing privileges.
If parent is not able to be home to receive child off the bus and cannot come to the site within 30 minutes the DST will contact others on the emergency contact list.
As a general rule, parents are expected to walk the child to and from the bus, with exceptions. When an incident takes places with child at site/home, driver can wait a maximum of 7 minutes if parent indicates child needs to finish a task before boarding the bus.
It is possible, based on case to case; the Head Teacher can get off the bus to assist the child.
An IP (Individualized Plan) may be an option.
If no contact is reached, the RM plus one other staff person (2 total at site) will be notified and will be responsible for the child. If the RM is not available, the Program Directors or other central office management staff will be contacted. In cases where the parent/guardian is not available to pick up the child, the RM or Head Start Director will have a plan to continue attempts to contact the parent/guardian. If these attempts fail, the RM or Head Start Director shall notify the police.
The second time the parent/guardian is not available to receive child:
Head Teacher notifies the RM, who will then notify the TM.
TM will document in WebCAF. TM sends letter, including a copy of the section of the policy that has been violated and lists consequences.
The third time the parent/guardian is not available to receive child:
Head Teacher notifies the RM, and RM will notify TM in writing via email. TM documents in WebCAF.
The TM contacts the RM and Family Service Coordinator (FSC) to determine if the child has an 504 or an IFSP and to discuss transportation suspension or another plan.
When the above procedure is not practical, staff will develop an individualized Plan (IP) to meet the needs of the child. Any IP will be subject to approval by the Child Development & Disabilities Consultant (CDDC) first, secondly the Regional Manager (RM) and lastly, the Transportation Manager (TM).
Regional Managers will determine the allowance of backpacks in regards to busing. If it is determined that backpacks are allowed on the bus, a letter will be sent out to all parents of that bused site, with some guidelines for backpacks. An example of these guidelines would be only using a small backpack on the bus.
Any additional training with regards to medical alerts and the bus drivers will be determined by the Health Consultant, and these training will be decided on a case by case basis. Any medical alerts will be documented in WebCAF and the bus driver will be informed.
The policy complies with Head Start Performance Standard unknown
It was approved by Policy Council on April 24, 2001. November 9, 2004; August 9, 2005. August8, 2006. August 14, 2007. September 8, 2015
Updated August 25, 200;. June 16, 2004;July 2005; March 2006; June 2006; August 2006. June 2007. September 2015. October 2015
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