Code of Massachusetts Regulations
603 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Title 603 CMR 10.00 - School Finance
Section 10.09 - Transportation Reimbursement, School Choice, Homeless and Charter School Students

Universal Citation: 603 MA Code of Regs 603.10

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(1) Subject to appropriation, any parent or school district that provides transportation to a low income student to enable that student to attend school in a school district other than the district where the student resides pursuant to M.G.L. c. 76, § 12B, or to attend a charter school located outside the school district where the student resides, may receive reimbursement of transportation costs, to the extent permitted by 603 CMR 10.09(2).

(2) School choice and charter school transportation reimbursement is limited to reimbursement of the costs of transporting the eligible student(s) to and from school once a day for each day of instruction, as follows:

(a) In the case of transportation provided by a school or school district, reimbursement will not exceed 100% of the average cost of transporting students in the school or district providing the transportation.

(b) In the case of transportation provided by a public carrier or regional transportation authority, reimbursement will be the actual fare paid.

(c) In the case of transportation provided by a parent, reimbursement will be provided at the rate set by the State Director of Special Education.

(d) In the case of transportation purchased from a properly licensed private carrier, reimbursement will be the amount charged by the private carrier, up to a maximum of the rate cited in 603 CMR 10.09(2)(c).

(3) School districts and charter schools shall offer vouchers to parents of students who meet the eligibility requirements for transportation reimbursement set forth in 603 CMR 10.09(1) to enable parents to arrange transportation without having to advance payment for such services. Schools and school districts will be reimbursed for vouchered expenses in accordance with 603 CMR 10.09(5).

(4) To qualify for school choice or charter school transportation reimbursement, parents and school districts shall provide transportation that complies with all relevant state laws and regulations concerning safety.

(5) The following procedures shall be followed by schools and school districts to receive reimbursement for transportation provided or paid for on behalf of low income school choice or charter school students:

(a) Schools and school districts eligible for reimbursement shall submit their claims to the Department on a quarterly basis, in a form established by the Department.

(b) Parents requesting reimbursement shall file such claims with the office of the superintendent or director of the school or school district in which the eligible student attends school. The superintendent or director shall verify the claims and, if they meet the criteria set forth in 603 CMR 10.09, shall reimburse the parent and include the reimbursement amount in the district's school choice transportation reimbursement claim.

(c) Private carriers who transport eligible students pursuant to a school choice or charter school transportation voucher issued under 603 CMR 10.09(3) shall submit such vouchers to the issuing school district(s) for payment. The district that issued the voucher shall pay the carrier in accordance with the terms of the voucher, and shall include the amounts so paid in the district's reimbursement claim.

(6) Reimbursement for the costs of school choice and charter school transportation provided by school districts shall be deposited by the municipal or regional treasurer in a separate account, and may be expended by the school committee without further appropriation.

(7) Subject to appropriation, any school district that provides homeless student transportation, or shares the cost of providing homeless student transportation, to enable a homeless student to attend school in a school district other than the district where the student temporarily resides, may receive reimbursement of homeless student transportation costs. To qualify for reimbursement school districts shall provide transportation that complies with all relevant state laws and regulations concerning safety.

(8) Homeless student transportation reimbursement is limited to reimbursement of the costs of transporting the eligible student(s) to and from school once a day for each day of instruction, as follows:

(a) In the case of transportation provided by a school or school district, reimbursement will be the cost of transporting homeless students to the school of origin.

(b) In the case of transportation provided by a public carrier or regional transportation authority, reimbursement will be the actual fare paid.

(c) In the case of transportation provided by a parent, reimbursement will be provided at the rate set by the State Director of Special Education.

(d) In the case of transportation purchased from a properly licensed private carrier, reimbursement will be the amount charged by the private carrier.

(9) School districts and municipalities shall submit all homeless transportation reimbursement claims to the Department within the timeframe established by the Department. The Department may deny any claim that is filed after the filing deadline or that does not contain the required information.

(10) The Department may request information to support a district's school choice, homeless and charter school transportation reimbursement claim prior to accepting the claim for payment, and may audit any claims.

(11) Reimbursement for the costs of school choice and charter school transportation provided by school districts shall be deposited by the municipal or regional treasurer in a separate account, and may be expended by the school committee without further appropriation.

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