Transportation
2024-25 Transportation
Transportation services will resume for K-8 students on August 22, 2024. Bus route information will be updated through our student information system, PowerSchool, and families will be notified via email when bus pick-up times and routes are available.
Reminder! Transportation During the First Weeks of the School Year
As routes are finalized and students and drivers become more familiar, we ask for your patience early on in the school year. Please allow for slight delays in arrivals and departures.
Transportation
We know the ride to and from school is an important part of the day for our students. Our team works closely with our transportation providers and families to provide safe and efficient service for our students.
District 65 bus service is provided by a local company, Positive Connections. Elementary students who reside 1.5 miles or more from their attendance-area school or reside where walking to school or to the bus stop would constitute a serious safety hazard are eligible for district-provided transportation at no cost to families. There is no district-provided busing for middle school students (Chute, Haven, and Nichols) with the exception of students who have transportation written into their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or who attend Chute and live west of McCormick Blvd. Some students may also be eligible for transportation as required in their Individualized Education Plan.
We strongly encourage walking or biking to school whenever possible and encourage our families to utilize our Safe Routes to School.
Eligibility
Eligibility
- How do I know if my student is eligible for transportation services?
- Do I need to request transportation services for my child?
- If my child does not meet eligibility guidelines for transportation, can they still take the bus?
- What if my student has a Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and requires transportation?
- What if my family is in a transitional living situation and my student needs transportation?
- What happens if I move within the district and my student now meets eligibility requirements?
How do I know if my student is eligible for transportation services?
In District 65, we believe in neighborhood schools and providing students with the academic programming and services they need in proximity to their home to the greatest extent possible. As such, many of our students live in designated walking areas of their attendance-area school and; therefore, are not eligible for district-provided transportation services.
Elementary students who reside 1.5 miles or more from their attendance-area school or reside where walking to school or to a bus stop would constitute a serious safety hazard are eligible for district-provided transportation at no cost to the family.
Diverse Learners, who receive door to door service, must have transportation written in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and authorized by the Department of Individualized Education Services.
Students enrolled in magnet schools (Bessie Rhodes or King Arts) or programming (African Centered Curriculum (ACC) or Two-Way Immersion English-speaking students (TWE), are eligible for a fee. Two-Way Immersion Spanish-speaking students (TWS) are provided with transportation at no cost.
Do I need to request transportation services for my child?
For returning students, transportation information is carried over from the previous school year. However, a parent/guardian must request transportation services for their child under the following circumstances:
- child is an incoming kindergartner or new to District 65;
- child attends a different D65 school than the previous year;
- if your family lives at a new address; or
- pick-up or drop-off address change
Requests can be made by sending an email to transportation@district65.net. Please provide the child's name, school, grade, phone, home address, and pick up/drop-off address if the address is different from home.
Please ensure your child is eligible for transportation before making the request. See transportation eligibility FAQs on this webpage.
If my child does not meet eligibility guidelines for transportation, can they still take the bus?
What if my student has a Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and requires transportation?
What if my family is in a transitional living situation and my student needs transportation?
School districts must provide transportation to children and youth experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in the school of origin.
The parent, guardian, or caregiver should make a good-faith effort to provide or arrange for transportation, but it is ultimately the school district's duty to make sure appropriate transportation is provided. If the child's living situation takes them outside the attendance boundaries for the school district of origin, the two districts involved must agree upon the sharing of responsibility and cost for transportation.
All McKinney Vento student transportation must be authorized by the Individualized Education Services Department. To connect with the District 65 McKinney-Vento Liaison, please email mvtransition@district65.net or visit the Joseph E. Hill Education Center at 1500 McDaniel Avenue, Evanston.
What happens if I move within the district and my student now meets eligibility requirements?
A parent/guardian must update and verify residency, including any apartment number changes, with our Student Assignment Team, located at the Joseph E. Hill Education Center (1500 McDaniel Ave). Parents will be responsible for transportation temporarily if a new route and/or bus stop is necessary.This may take up to (3) days after all residency documents have been approved.
Fees
Fees
- What if my child attend a magnet school or program? Do fees apply?
- Who is required to pay for transportation services?
- My family is applying for free- or reduced-price meals, do I need to pay transportation fees?
- What if I don't qualify for free or reduced-price meals but can't afford to pay transportation fees?
- Are payment plans available?
What if my child attend a magnet school or program? Do fees apply?
Families with students enrolled in District 65’s magnet schools (Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School) who are interested in magnet school bus service must submit their contact information and payments to the appropriate staff member (located below) to participate in the service.
Students enrolled in a magnet school or special program such as the African Centered Curriculum (ACC) or Two Way Immersion programs (TWI) may be eligible for transportation. Transportation fees per student are:
- $600 full fee for students in grades K - 8
- $179 for students qualifying for reduced-price meals
- Waived for students qualifying for free meals.
SUBMIT STUDENT INFORMATION to transportation@district65.net
TO PAY FEES: Call 847-859-8016 to process payments.
ALL OTHER TRANSPORATION INQUIRIES: Contact transportation@district65.net or (847) 859-8160
Who is required to pay for transportation services?
Many of our students live in designated walking areas of their attendance-area school; therefore, are not eligible for district-provided transportation services.
Elementary students who reside 1.5 miles or more from their attendance-area school or reside where walking to school or to a bus stop would constitute a serious safety hazard are eligible for district-provided transportation at no cost to the family. Diverse Learners, who receive door to door service, must have transportation written in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and authorized by the Department of Individualized Education Services.
Magnet Schools and Programs
Students enrolled in magnet schools (Bessie Rhodes or King Arts) or programming (African Centered Curriculum - ACC or Two Way Immersion - TWI may be eligible for transportation for a fee. Discounts or waived fees are available based on student free or reduced-price meal status.
Transportation fees per student are:
- $600 full fee for students in grades K-8
- $179 for students qualifying for reduced-price meals
- Waived for students qualifying for free meals
Families that are required to pay transportation fees will receive an invoice at the start of the school year.
My family is applying for free- or reduced-price meals, do I need to pay transportation fees?
What if I don't qualify for free or reduced-price meals but can't afford to pay transportation fees?
Are payment plans available?
Bus Operations & Safety
Bus Operations & Safety
- Do I need to request transportation services for my chilld?
- Will my child be dropped off at the bus stop if an adult is not present?
- What time should my child arrive at the bus stop and how long will they be on the bus?
- Can I still pick-up my child from school if they regularly ride the bus?
- What if my child leaves something on the bus?
Do I need to request transportation services for my chilld?
For returning students, transportation information is carried over from the previous school year. However, a parent/guardian must request transportation services for their child under the following circumstances:
- child is an incoming kindergartner or new to District 65;
- child attends a different D65 school than the previous year;
- if your family lives at a new address; or
- pick-up or drop-off address change
Requests can be made by sending an email to transportation@district65.net. Please provide the child's name, school, grade, phone, home address, and pick up/drop-off address if the address is different from home.
Please see transportation eligibility guidelines.
Will my child be dropped off at the bus stop if an adult is not present?
As a safety measure, a parent/guardian must be present at the bus stop to receive children in grades pre-K through 3rd grade.
If there is no parent/guardian at the stop, the bus will circle back to the stop after the route concludes. The transportation department will attempt to make contact with the parent/guardian. If there is no response, the student will be brought back to the school. School administrators will take steps to reach the family. However, if no one is available, the District’s Office of Prevention and Special Response or the Evanston Police Department will be notified.
If the parent/guardian cannot be present and wants to grant permission to another adult or older sibling to receive the child, they must do so in writing by emailing transportation@district65.net.
If the parent/guardian wants to grant permission for their child in preK-3rd grade to depart the bus without anyone present, they must grant written permission to the Principal, Superintendent of Schools, and the Transportation Coordinator.
What time should my child arrive at the bus stop and how long will they be on the bus?
Students should plan to be at their assigned bus stop 10 minutes before their scheduled pick-up. As bus routes become more established early on in the school year and students become more familiar with the bus-riding process, the route timing will likely become more consistent and efficient.
Students should still be at the bus stop 5-10 minutes early as weather and traffic can affect the timing of the route. It is important for parents/caregivers to understand that our schools each have dismissal procedures in place to help ensure that each child reaches their destination safely and comfortably. Staff will carefully check bus assignments as students are escorted to the bus.
Please understand that at the beginning of the school year, buses may not leave school grounds until 20 minutes after the final bell. As students become more comfortable with the dismissal routine, this time shortens substantially.
Can I still pick-up my child from school if they regularly ride the bus?
What if my child leaves something on the bus?
Personal items are the responsibility of each student. Neither District 65 nor the transportation company is responsible for lost or stolen items. However, it is the policy of the bus company to keep common items such as lunch bags or jackets on the bus for the student to retrieve during the next ride.
More valuable items, such as cell phones and technology devices, are taken to the bus company headquarters where they are secured in a locked facility. Parents/guardians may pick up these items directly from the bus company. To inquire about items left on the school bus, please call Positive Connections at (847) 492-0115.
Routes & Stops
Routes & Stops
- Can my child receive transportation to and from childcare/community centers?
- How are bus routes and bus stops determined?
- How do I request a change to a bus route or stop?
- What if I feel that walking to/from school or a bus stop constitutes a safety hazard for my child?
- What if I have a question about my child’s bus route?
Can my child receive transportation to and from childcare/community centers?
District 65's Transportation Services department readily provides transportation for elementary school students to the following community partners/centers -
- MCGAW YMCA (1000 Grove St, Evanston, IL 60201)
- Robert Crown Community Center (1801 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202)
- Family Focus via Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center (1655 Foster St, Evanston, IL 60201)
- Evanston Kindercare (2014 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202)
Middle school students are not transported to these programs unless they receive special education services from the district.
Route information is rolled over from the previous school year, including before and afterschool programs.
If your student is new to District 65 or there is a change in stop, you must contact transportation@district65.net or call the District’s Transportation Line at (847) 859-8160.
How are bus routes and bus stops determined?
How do I request a change to a bus route or stop?
If a temporary change is needed, please provide a written request to the school office and to the Transportation department transportation@district65.net. Requests should be provided a minimum of (3) school days prior to the requested change.
For safety and security reasons, students are not allowed to ride other buses or use other stops. If a permanent change is needed, send an email with your request to your school and to transportation@district65.net. If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), please contact the Individualized Education Services Department at (847) 859-8090.
What if I feel that walking to/from school or a bus stop constitutes a safety hazard for my child?
What if I have a question about my child’s bus route?
For questions regarding bus routes, please contact your child's school or reach out to the Transportation department transportation@district65.net. In your correspondence, please include the school that your child attends, their bus route, and their current assigned bus stop.