Transportation Eligibility
School bus transportation is a privilege offered by the district free of charge to students who live two (2) or more miles from his/her zoned campus as measured by the nearest commonly traveled public road. This privilege is conditional upon the student observing safe and appropriate behavior while waiting for the bus, riding the bus, and departing the bus. Important Note: Parents must have their child enrolled at the school of residence before a bus can be assigned.
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
- Read and understand the general information regarding the transportation services of La Porte ISD.
- Ensure that your child is aware of, cooperates in, and obeys the safety rules as well as bus driver instructions.
- Ensure that your child rides the appropriate bus. Students are allowed to ride ONLY their assigned bus and may only have one (1) bus stop.
- Ensure that your child demonstrates safe and appropriate behavior at the bus stop.
Bus Route Information
- All bus routes are designed to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible while still meeting the students' needs.
- When a route change is necessary that will affect pickup/drop off times and/or bus number, notification will be made via the SmartTag Parent App two (2) afternoons prior to the effective date of change, unless there is an absolute need for the change to happen sooner.
- In most cases, bus stops are located at street corners or a common point for students to gather. Bus routes are not designed to pick up and deliver students at every child's home.
- Where possible, bus stops are located such that students should walk no more than one half (1/2) a mile to the nearest bus stop. School buses are built as a heavy duty large truck. Because of their size and weight, buses are not able to travel on some roads. In situations like these, students will be required to walk to an area where a bus can travel safely.
- Buses do not deliver students to businesses or the student's place of employment.
- If students are not present at a bus stop for three (3) consecutive days, the bus stop will be discontinued without notice to the parents. Parents must contact the Transportation Department to resume service at that stop.
Tutorial Routes
After-school tutorial routes might be offered at various times of the school year. Tutorial routes are built on a modified schedule that has fewer bus stops and cover a larger area of the district.
- Students MUST be pre-registered through their campus before boarding the buses. The drivers will not permit a student to board their bus unless they are on the list submitted by the campus.
- Violations of bus safety rules will result in removal from the tutorial route and will also reflect on the regular route bus.
PreK & Special Education Students
PreK, kindergarten, first grade & special education students will only be released from the bus if a parent/guardian or other predesignated person is present at the bus stop to receive the student. If no approved adult is present, the child will be returned to the campus for the parent to pick-up. Once a student has been returned to the campus twice, the process to suspend bus riding privileges will begin.
Gated Communities, Private Property & Construction
- La Porte ISD buses are not permitted to operate on private property or roads that are not maintained by the County or State. Gated communities, apartment complexes, and trailer parks are considered private property. PreK and Special Needs routes may be an exception.
- Neighborhoods that are under construction pose a safety hazard for large vehicles like school buses. La Porte ISD will not travel through areas where significant construction may impact the safety of the bus route.
Bus Safety Rules and Exceptions
School bus transportation is a privilege offered by La Porte ISD to all students who are eligible for this service. The school district staff and bus drivers share your concern about the safety of your child. You can assist in providing a safe bus ride by reviewing the following items with your child.
Meeting the Bus
- Students must be on time and visible at the bus stop. It is recommended that students be at their bus stop ten (10) minutes before pick-up time.
- Students must not stand on the traveled portion of the roadway while waiting for the bus.
- Students must not approach a moving bus until it comes to a complete stop. Once the bus has stopped, the student may walk towards the bus when signaled by the driver.
- Once on the bus, students must go directly to their assigned seat so that the bus may proceed on its route.
Bus Safety Rules
- Observe the same conduct level as expected in the classroom.
- Profanity and obscene gestures are not allowed.
- Do not eat or drink on the bus.
- Do not litter or damage the bus in any way.
- Drivers are authorized to assign seats.
- All items prohibited at school are prohibited on the bus.
- Fighting, horseplay, and throwing objects is prohibited.
- No live/dead animals, flammable materials are not allowed.
- No skateboards, balls, roller blades or balloons may be brought on the bus.
- Large, bulky items that cannot fit under the seat or in the student's lap may not be brought on the bus. Arrangements must be made for the parent to transport these items. This includes large band instruments and school projects.
- Any mobile phone, laptop computer, digital camera, or any other type of electronic or imaging device shall be allowed on school buses provided they are not in use and causing any disruption on the bus. Laptops are to be secured within their laptop bag/case. Photos may not be taken on the bus utilizing camera phones or other types of imaging products due to student confidentiality regulations and safety concerns. An item that a driver confiscates from a student because the item is prohibited on the bus will be returned to the student (with the exception of drugs, weapons, tobacco or any illegal contraband) when they get off the bus or brought to the Transportation Department.
Departing the Bus
- When getting off the bus, students should move quickly but safely away from the unloading area.
- The emergency door at the rear of the bus is to be used for emergency purposes only. It is not to be used for boarding or departing the bus.
- Students are allowed to board and depart the bus at one (1) designated bus stop ONLY!
Consequences for Rule Violations
When a student fails to observe the bus safety rules, the driver will complete a bus safety report and submit it to the Transportation Office to be forwarded to the campus principal. The campus principal will review, with the student, the expectations and consequences for rule violations.
- 1st Report Warning. The report is sent home for parent signature and returned to the principal. Step 2 is explained.
- 2nd Report Warning. The report is sent home for parent signature and retuned to the principal. Step 3 is explained.
- 3rd Report. The student is denied bus privileges for three (3) days. The report is sent home for parent signature and returned to the principal. Step 4 is explained.
- 4th Report. The student is denied bus privileges for ten (10) days. The parent is telephoned and the report is sent home. A conference with the building administrator, student and parent will be held before bus privileges may be resumed. Step 5 is explained.
- 5th Report. The student is denied bus privileges for twenty (20) days. Step 6 is explained.
- 6th Report. The student is denied bus privileges for the remainder of the year. The parent is telephoned and the report is sent home.
A parent conference may be called at any time by the building administrator or Transportation Director should serious misconduct occur. The building administrator or Transportation Director has the authority to skip steps for serious violations or to repeat them if the misconduct is not a serious safety violation.
37.126. Disruption of Transportation
a) Except as provided by section 37.125, a person commits an offense if the person intentionally disrupts or interferes with the lawful transportation of children to or from school or an activity sponsored by a school on a vehicle owned or operated by a county or independent school district.
b) An offense under this section is a class C misdemeanor.
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