Eligibility
All eligible students must be registered to ride the bus.

Please carefully review Eligibility Requirements below. 

Kindergarten Eligibility: 

All kindergarten students who live one mile or greater from their assigned school are eligible for a bus at no cost (distance is determined using Google Maps, "shortest distance by car").

Grades 1 - 4 Eligibility: 

• Students in Grades 1-4 who live one (1) mile or greater from their home school are eligible for transportation (distance is determined using Google Maps, "shortest distance by car").

• Eligible families will pay $360 per student/per year, with a family cap of $720.

• Students who live over two (2) miles will be provided transportation at no cost.

Grades 5-6 Eligibility:

• Students in Grades 5-6 who live one and a half (1.5) miles or greater from their school are eligible for transportation (distance is determined using Google Maps, "shortest distance by car").

• Eligible families will pay $360 per student/per year, with a family cap of $720.

• Students who live over two (2) miles will be provided transportation at no cost.

Grades 7 -12 Eligibility:

• Students in Grades 7-12 who live one and a half (1.5) miles or greater from their school are eligible for transportation (distance is determined using Google Maps, "shortest distance by car").

• Eligible families will pay $360 per student/per year, with a family cap of $720.

Special Education (IEP) Eligibility:

• If your student is provided specialized transportation through their IEP, there is no cost. 

• Registration is still required for any special education student who will be riding the bus.

Please review your child’s IEP documentation to determine if Specialized Transportation is included as part of their IEP.  Not all IEP’s include a transportation waiver.

Fees may be waived for families who qualify for free/reduced lunch programs.

Supplemental Income Request for Bus Fee Waiver

Families must apply annually with Braintree Public Schools if requesting a bus fee waiver.  Families must complete the On-Line Free and Reduced Meal Application (this form is used to determine eligibility for reduced transportation fees).  The on-line application is available on our BPS Food Services Website:   https://www.braintreeschools.org/departments/food-services
You may be required to provide copies of your Tax forms and/or other Income documentation during the review process to determine eligibility.  

Applications will be reviewed within 2 weeks of receipt.  A letter of determination will be mailed to your home address on file as well as emailed. 

Income Guidelines can be found at  https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/fr-020923  

Important:  Please consider the deadline requirements for registration.  Outstanding payments and/or outstanding eligibility determination for a fee waiver not made by the due date will not be guaranteed a seat on the bus.  

Polices & Procedures

The Braintree School Committee’s policy is to bus all kindergarten students who live more than one mile, all kindergarten students at the end of the morning session and beginning of the afternoon session, all students who live more than one mile at the elementary level, one and a half miles for students at the middle school level, and one and a half miles for students at the high school level. BPS Transportation reserves the right to modify this as required.

In order to ensure adequate space on buses, all students must ride the bus they are assigned. In addition, students must be picked up and dropped off at their assigned stops based upon residency.

All students must visibly display a valid bus pass in order to ride the bus to or from school.

Students are entitled to transportation only when they conduct themselves in accordance with the rules and regulations of the School Committee and do their share to see that conditions on the buses are satisfactory. Damage to the school bus equipment shall be paid for by the offender.

The bus driver will report any violation of these school bus regulations in writing both to the transportation coordinator and the school administration on the day in which the violation occurs. The principal of the school will review the complaint with the student. If he or she deems the report to be valid, the parent will be informed by a phone call followed by a letter, and, if required by these rules, the student will lose his or her bus privilege for the length of time indicated.

The following rules and regulations must be followed at all times:

• Every student in elementary, middle school, and high school must have his/her bus pass ready to show the bus driver each time he/she gets on the bus.
  (TO BE STRICTLY ENFORCED)

• A middle or high school student who does not have a bus pass will not be allowed to ride the school bus. Any pupil losing a bus pass must report the loss to the school office, and a temporary pass will be issued for one (1) ride home. The student may obtain a replacement on payment of $1.00 along with a note from a parent.

• Any pupil transferring a bus pass to another person will automatically lose his/her transportation privilege for a period of one (1) week.

• Students must obey the bus driver at all times while under his/her supervision. For safety reasons, buses containing students not obeying Braintree Public School regulations will return to the school of origin where students responsible for the disturbance will be left with school authorities and will be deprived of bus transportation for the day.

• Smoking, drinking, eating, or transporting of any illegal substance is forbidden.

• Students may not bring any live animals or hazardous materials on the bus.

• Disorderly conduct will not be tolerated.

• BUSES WILL STOP ONLY AT DESIGNATED STOP.
  
  

Rules for Student Behavior on School Buses

1. Before boarding the school bus, all students K-12 must observe the following rules:

a. Be on time at the designated bus stop, preferably at least five (5) minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

b. Stay off the road and private property while waiting for the bus.

c. Do not move toward the bus until it has come to a complete stop.

d. Do not crowd and push while getting on the bus.

2. While on the bus, all students K-12 must observe the following rules:

a. Sit where you are told. Do not leave or change your seat while bus is in motion.

b. Keep hands, feet and head inside of bus.

c. Do not open or close windows. Only the driver may operate the windows.

d. Assist in keeping the bus safe and clean. Do not litter and do not throw items around.

e. Do not tamper with the bus or any of its equipment. Damage to equipment will be paid for by the offender.

f. Do not shout or create unnecessary confusion.

g. Keep books, packages, coats and all other objects out of the aisle.

h. Maintain absolute quiet when the bus approaches a railroad crossing stop.

Bus Passes

All eligible families that register through our online Family Connection portal will receive a confirmation from BPS (through ParentSquare) regarding their students' bus transportation status. 

Confirmed students will receive a bus pass during the first full week of school in September. Students in all grades must have their bus pass ready to show the bus driver each time they get on the bus.

Snow Procedures

When inclement weather or other emergency situations force school delays or closings, the Superintendent will notify all parents and staff with a recorded message through the automated phone system.