An essential component of the education process is the safe and efficient transportation of students to and from school. The successful completion of this task relies on the shared responsibility of drivers, students, parents, schools, and Transportation.

Harford County Public School buses transport approximately 36,000 children on 500 buses everyday to and from school, travelling nearly 42,000 miles daily. To ensure safe and reliable service, Harford County Public Schools Transportation takes great pride in our driver training program and fleet maintenance.

• Approximately 500 general education and special needs buses service Harford County Public School students.
   
  • 400 contractor owned and operated general education buses.
  • 100 county owned and operated special needs buses.
• Over 36,000 students transported daily.
   
• Miles traveled: 42,000 daily, 7.5 million annually.
   
• 53 Public Schools serviced; 16 out of county/Non-Public Schools serviced
   
• 20,000 field trips, sport events and extra curricular activities transported annually.
   

The pupil transportation system in Harford County is operated under State and Local policies and guidelines established by the Maryland State Department of Education and the Harford County Board of Education. The Transportation Services Department emphasizes the following policies for parental information:

• School bus transportation is provided for Harford County public elementary school students who live more than one mile from their school and for public secondary school students who live more than one and one half miles from their school.
• Pupils may not ride buses other than those to which they are regularly assigned, without approval by the Principal, following a written request by the parent. These requests shall be approved for emergency situations only.
• All pupils who are eligible shall be provided transportation to attend the school within their appropriate attendance area.
• Bus stops should not be less than 1/4 of a mile apart.
• One stop location shall be allowed for each transported student. Exceptions will be made only in case of an emergency or when an extenuating circumstance exists and shall be approved by the Principal.
• Pupils should be at the bus stop five (5) minutes before pick up time.
• Parents are responsible for the supervision of students while walking to or from school or while walking to, from, or waiting at the bus stop.
• A pupil who damages the school bus in any manner shall be denied the privilege of riding a bus. Suspension of riding privileges shall be authorized by the Principal. Riding privileges may be restored to the pupil after restitution has been made.
• Pupils shall not bring the following items on board the bus without prior approval by the bus driver: large musical instruments or bulky items. Live insects or animals shall not be permitted on the school bus.

The following transportation rules apply to all students riding school buses to and from Harford County Public Schools. In addition, all other policies adopted by the Board of Education regarding student behavior on school property will be enforced on Harford County Public Schools' buses.

1. Students must follow directions from the driver the first time they are given. The driver shall be in full charge of the school bus and the students, except in the presence of a teacher/administrator, who shall then be in charge of the students.
2. Insubordination or disrespect to the driver or attendant will not be tolerated.
3. Students will sit in the seats which have been assigned to them by the driver and the principal or their designee. Students must remain in their seats at all times when the bus is in motion. Changing seats any time during the run is prohibited.
4. Students may converse in a normal manner; but loud, profane, or obscene language or gestures will not be permitted.
5. With the exception of their books, bookbags, and school equipment, such as musical instruments or gym bags, students may not transport other items on the bus without the permission of the driver. Books, bookbags, and other school equipment should be held by the student. No books or other objects are to be placed in the bus aisle. Books and other school equipment must be of a size that can be controlled in the seat by the student.
6. Students must not extend any part of their bodies through bus windows. Students must face forward at all times and keep their arms and legs out of the aisle. Spitting or tossing objects on or out of the bus is prohibited.
7. Students must not attempt to board or to get off the bus while it is in motion.
8. Students should cooperate in keeping the bus clean and must not damage it. Any malicious or willful damage to a school bus will result in the immediate withdrawal of transportation services for the student or students involved. In addition, the cost of repairing the bus must be satisfactorily settled.
9. Students may not eat, drink, or chew gum on the bus.
10. Students may not play radios, CD players, or other such devices on the bus.
11. Students suspended from the school may not ride the bus while they are on suspension.
12. Students may not leave the bus on the way to or from school without the permission of the driver. The driver will not give permission except in case of personal emergency on the part of the student or upon written request of the student’s parent with the written approval of the principal.
13. Students are permitted to ride only the bus to which they are assigned, utilizing their designated bus stop, and which serves the area in which they live. Requests from parents for the students to ride other buses in an emergency will be considered by school officials.
14. Students must be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the bus.
15. No glass items or live animals (except those assisting the handicapped) are to be transported on buses.
16. Students shall not use cell phones or otherwise be capable of receiving an activation signal at anytime while riding any form of transportation provided by Harford County Public Schools.
17. Students violating the transportation rules will be reported to the principal or the assistant principal and transportation services may be restricted or withdrawn.

Students who are assigned to ride Harford County Public School buses must assume certain responsibilities. Misconduct, carelessness, and thoughtlessness are hazardous to the safe operation of the school bus. The bus is an integral part of the total school program; and the driver, who is an adult in a position of authority, must insist on appropriate behavior.

Each student will receive a copy of the “Transportation Rules for Students” which is located in the Parent-Student Handbook & Calendar. These rules will be reviewed and interpreted for the students on an annual basis by school personnel. Violation of these rules must be reported to the school principal. When a principal is advised of a violation of the “Transportation Rules for Students” and where the principal determines, as a result of their investigation, that a violation of the “Transportation Rules for Students” has occurred, the following options shall be utilized by the principal:

Withdrawal of transportation services for a day shall be defined as a day that school is in session. Students and their parents should be aware that misbehavior on school buses may also have other serious consequences. Specifically, violation of the “Transportation Rules for Students” may result in a suspension from school. Furthermore, any act by a student which contributes to a school bus accident will be reported to the police officer investigating the incident.

Harford County Public Schools offer a wide variety of Magnet Programs and Alternative Education settings. School bus transportation for such county-wide programs involves some notable differences from transportation to the student’s home school. In an effort to provided county-wide transportation for these programs using a limited number of buses, the following practices are necessary so that student ride time is reasonable.

• Consolidated stops are used for all county-wide programs. This involves utilizing the local elementary school as a bus stop location and establishing stops at the entrance to developments.
• Depending on the distance between the residence and the program selected by the student, ride times may exceed the 45 minute target used for home school transportation.
• For new enrollees to such programs, please allow 3 – 5 school days for Transportation to set up service. In most cases, adding students to an existing route results in changes to the other riders’ schedule. Time is required so that the route can be adjusted and students can be informed of any changes to their schedule.

• Route, schedule and tier school buses in adherence with Federal, State and local guidelines so that all students eligible for transportation are given access to safe, adequate and economical bus transportation.
• Establish bus stop locations in adherence with State and local policies.
• Address concerns from parents, school administrators, bus drivers, contractors and the motoring public regarding the operation of Harford County Public Schools buses.
• Provide screening and training to ensure Harford County Public school bus drivers and assistants are highly qualified.
• Establish and enforce transportation procedures, regulations and rules.
• Inspect all buses in accordance with Federal, State and Local statutes and regulations.
• Provide data regarding school bus number and general route information to parents through schools and local newspapers. This data is provided in mid August every year. Pick up and drop off times are estimates only and are subject to change.

• Follow the designated route time and schedule.
• Pick up and discharge students at approved stops only.
• Ensure the bus is in safe operating condition.
• Maintain a safe and orderly environment on the school bus.
• Inform students of behavioral expectations.
• Report unacceptable school bus behavioral violations to the school administrator as necessary.
• Drive the bus in a safe, professional manner.

• Arrive at the bus stop five minutes before pick-up time.
• Walk safely to the bus stop and wait in a safe manner away from traffic
• Respect the right of property owners while walking to or waiting at the bus stop.
• Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop prior to approaching the bus.
• Watch your step and use the handrail when getting on and off the bus.
• Board in an orderly manner, without pushing or shoving, at your stop or at school.
• Take your assigned seat promptly and remain seated for your ride to and from school.
• Sit in the seat facing front; keep your feet, books and other articles out of the aisle.
• Keep your hands and head inside the bus.
• Speak quiet and respectfully to your bus driver and other students.
• Do not damage any part of the bus and report any damage that you see to the driver.
• Do not eat, drink, smoke or use vulgar language.
• Do not tamper with any of the bus' equipment or controls.
• Remain quiet and orderly so the driver is not distracted from the important job of driving.
• Do not throw any object on the bus or outside the bus.
• Listen to the bus driver's instructions.
• Wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before leaving your seat.
• Cross ten feet in front of the bus with the warning lights when crossing in front of the bus.
• Always look left, right, left to check for traffic before crossing any street, even when crossing in front of the bus with its red warning lights on.

Each parent has a definite role in the safe and efficient operation of a school’s transportation system. If the transportation program, as a whole, is to function effectively, the parents must assume their responsibilities to the program and extend cooperation and support to the people charged with its operation.

Parents should be aware that the privilege to ride a school bus may be temporarily or permanently revoked if the “Transportation Rules for Students” are violated.

Parents are responsible for the safety of their children from the time they leave home in the morning until the time they board the school bus and, at the end of the school day, from the time the school bus departs the bus stop and the children reach home. Once the child enters the school bus, the responsibility lies with the bus driver and the school administration

In order to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the student transportation program, parents must also accept the responsibilities to:

1. Cooperate with the school authorities and the school bus driver in promoting safe and efficient services for all passengers.
2. Insist upon good behavior on the part of their children while riding the school bus.
3. Insist that their children occupy the seats which have been assigned to them.
4. Instruct their children as to their responsibility for damages caused to the property of others, including the school bus.
5. Inform their children that they should arrive at the designated school bus stop five (5) minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the school bus.
6. Make suggestions to the school principal or to the Director of Transportation for improvements in the transportation program.
7. Walk with younger children to and from the school bus stop, using this opportunity to teach the children proper pedestrian practices. If the parents cannot accompany their children, arrangements should be made, if possible, for older children (brothers, sisters, or neighbors) to escort the younger children to and from the school bus stop or school.
8. Encourage their children to obey all traffic rules, signs, and signals.
9. Set an example for their children by their own safety practices.
10. Parents are not allowed to board the school bus under any circumstances.