Special Education Transportation

Undoubtedly, Special Education Transportation support often represents the largest part of your organization’s transportation support services. In today’s world, understanding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the role that pupil transportation plays in assuring a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and providing it in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is essential. Is your organization’s leadership team in both Special Education and Pupil Transportation partnering in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) discussions specific to pupil transportation? Does your assessment model for special education transportation employ objective assessment to identify transportation as a necessary related service based upon a student special needs and program location? All too often, as pupil transportation professionals, we fail to recognize and assure that once a child is identified as requiring transportation support to meet their special need or program location, that it is accomplished in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); this concept should incorporate more than just the classroom it should include transportation support as well. Is your organization supporting a larger school bus fleet or contracting for alternative transportation services to a larger degree than necessary as a result of not modeling your transportation program to meet the needs of all students? PTI has the industry consultants that can assist you in evaluating your special education transportation model with industry practitioners that have both managed successful programs and have provided consulting services to many school districts, JPA’s and SELPA’s.