Home · Transportation Services · FAQs
[]
Senior Vice President

Vacant

440 North Broad Street
3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: 215-400-4350
Related Departments
Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Regarding Transportation

  1. Why can't my child get a bus (Transpass), when this other child I know does?
  2. What is the process when child does not arrive home at the scheduled time and what shall I do if the bus doesn't come?
  3. Why are seat belts not on school buses?
  4. What is the process if a student is qualified for the student pass and school never submit add form?
  5. Change of address process and how to transfer service from one school to another?
  6. Who do I call at my child's school with questions/changes/resolution on transportation bus and Transpasses?
  7. What shall I do if something happens on the bus?
  8. How do I change the bus route / bus stop?
  9. What happens if the school has early dismissal?
  10. How do I get my child on a bus? How can my child get a Transpass?
  11. How can I get a job as a bus driver and what are the requirements?
  1. Why can't my child get a bus (Transpass), when this other child I know does?
    •    Contact the school to find out if the child's name was submitted to Transportation services and the student must meet the eligibility requirements listed below.  
    i.    A student must be a resident of the City of Philadelphia and......
    ii.    Be designated by the Office of Specialized Services as a participant in a Special Education class, and whose participation requires that transportation is needed to enable the student to get to school
    iii.    Live more than a mile from his/her school and be participating in the voluntary school desegregation program of the School District of Philadelphia
    iv.    Be in grades 1-6, and live 1-1/2 miles or more from the assigned school
    v.    Be in grades 1-8, whose route to school is determined to be hazardous by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
    vi.    Be assigned by the Office of the Chief Executive Officer to attend a school other than his/her regularly assigned school for reasons of overcrowded conditions, and be in grades 1-12 and live 1-1/2 miles or more from the assigned school
    vii.    By recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer to the School Reform Commission, be one whose extenuating circumstances dictate an extraordinary need for district-provided transportation
    viii.    Be in grades 7-12 and live 1-1/2 miles or more from his/her school to be eligible for a free SEPTA student pass.
  2. What is the process when child does not arrive home at the scheduled time and what shall I do if the bus doesn't come?
    Call Transportation Services Operations Room at 215.400.5262, 5287, 6572, 5330, 5340, 6968 or 4350 and then press one. The office opens at 6:30 AM and staff are on duty until the last student is dropped off.
  3. Why are seat belts not on school buses?

    http://www.pasbo.org/SeatBeltFactSheet6-08.pdf

    http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Seat+Belts/Seat+Belts+on+School+Buses+--+May+2006

     

  4. What is the process if a student is qualified for the student pass and school never submit add form?
    Contact the school principal for follow up action.
  5. Change of address process and how to transfer service from one school to another?
    All informational changes must be made by the school administrator through the School Computer network.

  6. Who do I call at my child's school with questions/changes/resolution on transportation bus and Transpasses?
    The school principal designates a staff member to address your questions.

  7. What shall I do if something happens on the bus?
    Report the incident to the school principal who will follow up with Transportation Services.
  8. How do I change the bus route / bus stop?
    A request for the change must be submitted by the school principal with an explanation for the change.
  9. What happens if the school has early dismissal?
    Notification of an early dismissal should be made to the parents unless there is an emergency, such as heating issues at the school or inclement weather.  Every reasonable effort will be made by the School District to notify parents.
  10. How do I get my child on a bus? How can my child get a Transpass?
    The school principal enrolls students through the School Computer Network (SCN). Transportation receives a report daily with the new student information.  The student is checked for eligibility and if eligible assigned free transportation.
  11. How can I get a job as a bus driver and what are the requirements?
    In order to apply for the position of Bus Chauffeur, an applicant must:
    A. Be at least 21 years of age.
    B. Possess a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
    C. Fill out an employment application which can be obtained from the Human Resources Office of Transportation Services.
    D. Submit a "Request for Criminal Record Check" form (SP-4) to the Pennsylvania State Police.
    E. Submit a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance form (CY113) to Childline & Abuse Registry, Department of Public Welfare
    F. Must Register for FBI Finger Printing which can be done @ http://www.pa.cogentid.com/.
    G. Conform to School District policies and procedures regarding non-drug and alcohol use.
     
    When these requirements have been fulfilled and the processing of information completed, the applicant must then obtain the necessary credentials to drive a school bus. After the applicant has acquired the credentials (see below), he/she will be given a road test and an evaluation by School District trainers and subsequently placed on an eligibility list for employment.
     
    Credential Requirements
    In order to be employed as a Bus Chauffeur, the driver must possess:
    A. Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Operator's License (or a license from a surrounding state: NJ, DE, or NY).
    B. Physician's Certificate
    1.A School District approved physician issues a certificate, valid for the ensuing year, to every school bus operator who successfully passes the required physical examination in accordance with the provisions of Vehicle Code regulations.
    2.Such certificate becomes invalid if any condition should occur that would disqualify the driver from operating a school bus. It is the legal responsibility of the driver to report any physical disability which would disqualify him/her.
    3.All applicants must comply with the Department of Health and Philadelphia School District regulations and policies regarding communicable diseases.
    4.All drivers must be re-examined annually in order to maintain driver certification.
    C. Certificate of Completion
    In order to obtain a Certificate of Completion, an applicant must successfully complete a 20 hour course of instruction consisting of classroom training, vehicle familiarity and driving instruction.
    D. Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
     An applicant must successfully complete a 25 hour course of instruction consisting of classroom instruction regarding CDL regulations, in-bus operational training and on-the-road testing, before taking a knowledge test and a skills test (driving) required by the State Police in order to obtain his/her CDL.
    E. School Bus Certificate
    A School Bus Certificate will be issued when the applicant successfully completes the requirements to obtain a Certificate of Completion and a Commercial Driver's License.
    F. Re-certification
    In order to maintain credentials as a School District driver, every four years each driver must complete a 10 hour course of instruction consisting of seven hours of classroom review and 3 hours of vehicle familiarity and driving instruction.
     
Home · About Us · Programs & Services · Policy and Procedures · Forms · FAQs · Contact Us · Transportation Fact Sheet · Transportation Awards · Safety Competition · Photos
©School District of Philadelphia
440 North Broad Street 3rd Floor - Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: 215-400-4350 Fax: 215-400-4351