Transportation

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.

D65 Bus Eligibility and Boundary Map

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.

No. The only exception is if they are enrolled in a magnet school or program, in which case they may be eligible to ride for a fee. Fees are tiered based on free or reduced-price meal status and will be invoiced at the start of the school year.

Diverse Learners, who receive door to door service, must have transportation written in their IEP and authorized by the Department of Individualized Services. Once approved, transportation will be provided as required in the student's IEP.

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.

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.

Student transportation fees are tiered based on qualification for free or reduced-price meals.

Families that qualify for reduced-price meals will receive an invoice at the start of the school year. Families that qualify for free meals do not need to pay transportation fees.

Families who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals and who are unable to pay transportation fees may apply for a full or partial administrative waiver. Payment plans are also available. For more information, please contact Financial Services at (847) 859-8040.

Yes, payment plans are available. For more information, please contact Financial Services at (847) 859-8040.

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.

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. 

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.

Yes. If your student is not using the bus service for a specific day or time frame, you must send a written note to the school office 24 hours in advance advising who will be picking up the student. The person picking up the child may be asked for identification.

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.

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.

Bus stops are created based on state guidelines and transportation standards to ensure safety and efficiency. D65 bus stops are generally on corners and within a two-block walk. As a note, drivers are not authorized to make changes to bus stops.

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.

Parents may call the Transportation Department at (847) 859-8160 and request that the District review their concern to see if it meets the criteria for an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) hazard.

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.