Skip To Main Content

Transportation for Students with Special Needs

Thank you for choosing the Douglas County School District to support your child’s Special Education needs.  

Douglas County Transportation takes great pride in our trained staff and specialized equipment for students with special needs. Our bus drivers and bus assistants go through several weeks of intense training in order to provide the best service for all students. In some cases, we also partner with outside transportation companies that provide services for our special needs students. These companies are thoroughly vetted through our strategic sourcing department and must have additional insurance, provide background checks, pass drug and alcohol testing, and must meet the same standards of training as our own staff.

Transportation Request Process

The process starts with the school and/or caseworker and an IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting. During this meeting, it will be determined if a student is eligible for transportation as a related service.  

If it is determined that transportation is needed:

  1. The case manager will submit the request to DCSD’s Transportation Scheduling Department
  2. Once the Scheduling Department receives the notification, it takes up to 10 business days to finalize transportation arrangements for your child
  3. Once transportation is finalized, a transportation scheduler will notify you via email or phone with bus stop information, type of transportation, and the start date for your student.


Smart Tag Bus Pass for Special Education Students

For safety and security purposes, all students who ride DCSD buses are required to have a  Smart Tag Bus Pass. In accordance with Free Appropriate Public Education for Students With Disabilities: Requirements Under Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004, students with Transportation as a related service as part of their IEP will not be charged to access the school bus. However, they must still present a Smart Tag bus passd to scan when getting on and off the bus. If your child is unable to perform this task, the driver or assistant on the bus can assist in scanning the card. Students will receive their bus pass from their driver.


How to Request Changes in Transportation for Your Student

Please contact your child’s school or case manager directly to request any changes to your child’s transportation. DCSD’s Transportation Department is unable to make any changes until a case manager is notified and a new transportation request is submitted to our Transportation Scheduling Department.