Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Education
Title R277 - Administration
Rule R277-600 - Student Transportation Standards and Procedures
Section R277-600-6 - Bus Route Approval
Universal Citation: UT Admin Code R 277-600-6
Current through Bulletin 2024-06, March 15, 2024
(1)
(a) A local school board shall propose bus
routes subject to approval by the Superintendent.
(b) A local school board shall provide
information requested by the Superintendent prior to approval of a
route.
(c) During the regular
school year, an eligible route from the assigned school site to an alternative
program location shall be for a minimum of 15 days with primarily the same
group of students.
(d) The
Superintendent may not approve a route for reimbursement if an equitable
student transportation allowance or a subsistence allowance for the necessary
transportation is more cost-effective.
(2) A bus route shall:
(a) traverse the most direct public
road;
(b) be reasonably
cost-effective in comparison to other feasible alternatives;
(c) provide adequate safety for
students;
(d) traverse roads that
are constructed and maintained in a manner that does not cause property damage;
and
(e) include an economically
appropriate number of students.
(3)
(a) The
minimum number of general education students required to establish full
eligibility for state-supported transportation is ten.
(b) The minimum number of students with
disabilities required to establish full eligibility for state-supported
transportation is five.
(c) A bus
route may be established for fewer students upon special permission of the
Superintendent.
(4) A school district shall designate safe areas for bus stops, subject to the following, where possible:
(a) a school
district shall place bus stops at least 3/10 miles apart; and
(b) a school district shall avoid placing bus
stops on dead end roads.
(5)
(a) A
student's parent or guardian is responsible for the student's own
transportation to bus stops up to one and one-half miles from home.
(b) A parent or guardian with a student that
has a disability is responsible for the student's own transportation to bus
stops unless the IEP team determines otherwise.
(6)
(a) A
school district shall report changes made in existing routes or the addition of
new routes to the Superintendent as they occur.
(b) The Superintendent shall review and may
refuse to fund route changes.
(7) The Superintendent may reimburse a school district for transporting another district's students across school district boundaries so long as:
(a) the route promotes
efficient transportation for both districts;
(b) the route serves a group or community of
students and families rather than a single student or a single
family;
(c) the local school boards
of both participating districts vote in an open meeting that students who
reside in one district can be better and more economically served by another
district; and
(d) both districts
and the Superintendent maintain documentation annually of the boards' votes and
the approved route.
(8) A school district may transport eligible students home after school activities held at the students' school of regular attendance and within a reasonable time period after the close of the regular school day and receive approved route mileage.
(9)
(a) The Superintendent may approve atypical
routes as alternatives to building construction if routes are needed to allow
more efficient school district use of school facilities.
(b) Building construction alternatives
include:
(i) double sessions;
(ii) year-round school; and
(iii) attendance across school district
boundaries.
(10)
(a) A
school district may use local transportation funds to transport students across
state lines or out-of-state for school sponsored activities or required field
trips if:
(i) the local school board has a
policy that includes approval of trips at the appropriate administrative
level;
(ii) the school or school
district has considered the purpose of the trip or activity and any competing
risk or liability;
(iii) given the
distance, purpose, and length of the trip, the school district has determined
that the use of a publicly owned school bus is appropriate for the trip or
activity; and
(iv) the local school
board has consulted with State Risk Management.
(b) If school bus routes transport students
across Utah state lines or outside of Utah for required to and from routes,
routes are reimbursable providing a school district maintains documentation
that:
(i) the routes are necessary;
(ii) the routes are more cost-effective;
or
(iii) the routes provide greater
safety for students than instate routes.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Utah may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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