ERIC Number: EJ919351
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-651X
EISSN: N/A
The Costs and Challenges of Transporting Students with Disabilities
Suttman, Craig M.
School Business Affairs, v75 n7 p21-22 Jul-Aug 2009
Federal law does not require school boards to provide transportation for all students. But the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) entitles students with disabilities to transportation to and from school if the students' disabilities make it difficult for them to get to school; from, in, and around the buildings where they attend classes; and between schools if they must change locations during the day. Since school boards are responsible for transportation in and around the schools, school business officials share in the responsibility of ensuring accommodations for students. The IDEA's regulations define the term "related services" as "transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education." Although transportation is deemed a related service, there can be additional related services associated with transporting a student with a disability to and from school. This article discusses the costs and challenges of transporting students with disabilities. Special-education services as required under the IDEA, most notably transportation, should be determined on an as-needed basis through the individualized education program (IEP) process. School boards can avoid litigation and increased costs by properly training the special-education staff and IEP teams. It is thus essential that school business officials, other education leaders, and members of their boards educate themselves and their staffs about the federal regulations associated with transporting students with disabilities and the IEP.
Descriptors: Federal Legislation, Disabilities, Related Services (Special Education), School Business Officials, Costs, Student Rights, Special Education, Bus Transportation, Busing
Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). 11401 North Shore Drive, Reston, VA 20190. Tel: 866-682-2729; Fax: 703-478-0205; e-mail: asboreq@asbointl.org; Web site: http://www.asbointl.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A