Transportation

All students grade K-6 that reside over two miles from their respective school in their district.

All students grades K-6 that reside two miles or less from their respective school in their district. 

All students grades 7-12, regardless of distance, are required to pay for transportation.

There is a list of street addresses available for information in the Barnstable Schools Transportation office.

In accordance with State law, it is measured using the shortest vehicular route from the sidewalk or public way in front of or nearest to the pupil's home, to the nearest public way in front of the school the pupil is attending.

You may contact the Transportation Director, Sandy Gifford at 508-790-6498. If the official mileage appears to be marginal or is contested, the school measuring method will be the final determination. 

Children will walk to a common bus stop. We will make every effort to have that distance no greater than 1.5 miles. Bus stops will be set up, approved, maintained and verified by the Transportation Director only. Students are not entitled to street by street or door to door pickup or delivery. All stops will be at corners, whenever possible, as to make them fair and consistent for all. Bus stops are set up in accordance with School Committee policy and state law. In the case of new residents, you may be in an area that might require issuing a new bus stop. Until the area is reviewed and, if necessary, a new stop needs to be added, students will be assigned the closest bus stop until assigned a new one by the Transportation office. Parents are responsible to assure your child is at the correct bus stop. Any child standing at unauthorized locations or bus stops not assigned by transportation, will not be picked up. Do not assume bus stops are in the same location as the previous year, as they are apt to change due to student location and population. School Bus Drivers are not permitted to make changes, additions or deletions of any bus stops. While the law requires school departments to furnish transportation, to those students falling within the States guidelines, it does not relieve the parent of the responsibility of supervision of the child until the child boards the bus in the morning and the child leaves the bus at the end of the day. Once a child boards the bus and only at that time, does he or she become the responsibility of the school district. Such responsibility shall end when the child is delivered to the bus stop at the close of the school day. All kindergarten students must be met and taken from the school bus by an adult. Kindergarten students will be returned to the school if no adult is present.

STUDENTS ARE TO BOARD AND DISEMBARK THE BUS AT THEIR BUS PASS-ASSIGNED BUS STOPS ONLY.

If requesting an Alternate stop, it must be pre-approved, pending room on the bus, it will be the closest existing bus stop and in the case of elementary schools, must be located in that schools’ district. Alternate stop requests (if granted) can be for the following reasons ONLY - there are NO exceptions:

(A.) licensed daycare facility (B). Shared custodial parent or (C.) student's job location… the enclosed criteria and fees as outlined in Section #9, may apply to the alternate stop, based on grade and distance. An alternate stop request is NOT a requirement and requests may not be able to be granted. Visits to friend’s houses are not allowed, temporary addresses for use while parents are vacationing, on business trips, etc... are not allowed, you must arrange your own transportation.

#7B) The student does not become a discipline issue. 

#7C) Only one alternate stop per child is allowed. The alternate stop, if approved, must be consistent.  

The cost for all students is the same. The amount of time you use the bus does not matter, bus costs cannot be prorated according to varied daily usage. There are no “pay as you ride” passes. FEES ARE NOT PRORATED.

**NOTE fees have INCREASED, see below**

The amount of the fee will be determined on an annual basis. The fee for school year 2025/2026 is as follows:

• The fee is $275.00 for the first child, $275.00 for the second child of the same family and the maximum for one family is $550.00 per year, regardless of the date of entry into the school system. 
  
  Loss of the bus pass will result in a $10.00 fee to issue a new pass.
  
  Please see the fee application for discounted rate, if available. Bus Routes are completed as soon as possible, in order to make deadlines and provide the information to the public. Students MUST have a bus pass to ride.
   
• You may make payments at any time – HOWEVER All fees must be paid in full prior to getting a bus pass. We cannot issue a pass without FULL payment. Applications, payments and any qualifying paperwork must be completed and brought in or mailed to the Transportation office. *See bus pass application for methods of payment. * Students entering the school system after school start-up will be accepted based on space on a bus and if there is an existing stop already on the route.
   
• If a refund is requested you are returning the bus pass and will, NOT need the bus; any full refund is only granted prior to the start of school and the pass was not used. Partial refunds are issued between school start and January 31^st will be equal to 50% used and ALL refund request must be in writing to the Transportation Office, prior to January 31. NO REFUNDS AFTER JAN 31^ST.

Please see the “Sharing Information” Form. We do not determine Financial Eligibility. It is your responsibility to apply for and check on your status with the Food Services Program. We follow the determination that is made by Food Services and cannot change any determination made by them. Until a determination is made you are responsible for transporting your child to and from school. Qualifying for the Federal Meal Program does NOT automatically qualify you for a bus pass. If you qualify for reduced, you must pay the fee before a bus pass is issued and if qualified for free, it means we cannot charge you the fee. All bus seats for non-mandated (fee) students are based on room on the bus on a first come first serve basis.

Please note that in the event you reside in the existing walk zone of 1 mile, within your school's district, fee application waivers will not be considered. The full amount of the fee must be processed. If you cannot provide this fee, residing within the walk zone, your child will remain a walker. 

All Forms whether a “FEE” application or a “FREE” application must be returned to:

Barnstable Public Schools Transportation Office, 835 Falmouth Road, Hyannis, MA 02601 

Note: We have a drop box out front that you can use 24/7 to drop your payment and application off.

Payments Accepted

1. Checks: Check payments should be made payable to Barnstable Public Schools
2. Credit Card: Mastercard or Visa payments, please refer to the application on how to use this method.
3. MySchoolBucks: School online account system for BPS families. 

Please note that the Barnstable Public Schools, Student Bus Policy, is always in effect as riding the school bus is a privilege and should remain safe for all riders. Behavior issues will be dealt with in accordance with School Policy. Suspension and or revocation of riding privileges, by any student, will not afford a refund of bus fees for any reason.             

All prior year Bus Passes are null and void at the end of that school year in June. You may bring them to the Transportation Office or turn them in on Bus Pass pickup Days.