New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students

Students who transfer schools often do worse in school than those who don't transfer. The McKinney-Vento Act can help solve this problem by allowing students to stay in the same school and get free transportation.

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Transportation

In most cases, students who are homeless are entitled to transportation to school in order to eliminate barriers to their participation in school. Students attending their school of origin always have the right to transportation to school, as long as it is no more than 50 miles one-way away from where the student is temporarily residing. Students attending their local school have the right to receive the same transportation services offered to permanently housed students in the district. Find answers to commonly asked questions about transportation for students in temporary housing situations. Click the links below to learn more about transportation under McKinney-Vento.

NEW Transportation for Homeless Children and Youth: Strategies for Rural School Districts [PDF]

Get tips on creative transportation solutions for students experiencing homelessness in rural areas. A special congratulation to Saratoga County, NY for being acknowledged within this important brief.

Six Strategies for Meeting Transportation Requirements [PDF]

Find out more about different types of strategies districts employ to provide students who are homeless with transportation to school.

Short Guide to Transportation for Students in Temporary Housing Attending Charter School in New York State [Word doc]

Get more detailed information about transportation responsibilities for temporarily housed students attending charter school. This page is intended to replace the placeholder in Section IV-C of the LEA Liaison Toolkit.

Transportation Issue Brief [PDF]

Find more information and forms regarding transportation options for students who are temporarily housed.

Short Guide to Transportation for Students who are Homeless in New York State [Word doc]

Get an overview of school transportation available for students who are homeless in New York State.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Administrative Directive—Transportation for Students who are Homeless [PDF]

Under New York State law, in certain circumstances, the local social services is responsible for arranging and paying for transportation to and from school for students experiencing homelessness. Read this Administrative Directive to find out more about when the local department of social services is responsible for a student's transportation.

Sample Letter Requesting Yellow Bus Service for a General Education Student in New York City [Word doc]

All students in temporary housing who are in grades K-6 should get busing if there is an appropriate busing route. To request busing, families can speak with the Department of Education worker (also known as the Family Worker or Family Assistant) in the shelter, or speak with the borough's Students in Temporary Housing (STH) Content Expert.

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) Transportation Reimbursement Form [PDF]

Youth who are temporarily living in Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) shelters and attending the school of origin in a different district from the shelter must be transported to school. The RHY shelter where the student is residing should provide transportation to school for the student. The shelter will be fully reimbursed for the expense by NYSED. If the RHY shelter is unwilling or unable to provide transportation, the school district of origin must provide transportation and will be eligible for full reimbursement by NYSED. School districts should submit this form to: Nancy Chacoa, NYSED, P.O. Box 7256, Albany, NY 12224. With the completed form, include a cover letter with your school district's federal ID number, and the address where the reimbursement check should be sent.