Transportation

All Transportation is handled by the Office of Pupil Transportation.


ELIGIBILITY:
All children who are funded by the Committee on Special Education (the CSE) are eligible for free bus transportation to and from School.

APPLYING FOR BUS TRANSPORTATION:
When a funded child is accepted into The Child School, the parent informs the CSE, and the CSE submits an application for busing to the Office of Pupil Transportation.
It usually takes the Office of Pupil Transportation approximately two to three weeks to process the form. For children who are admitted to the School under the Nickerson Order, it usually takes a little longer.

CHANGES IN ADDRESS:
If you are planning to move, please notify the School at least 3 weeks beforehand so an application can be submitted with your new address. This way, transportation can be arranged before you actually move.

IF YOUR CHILD MISSES THE BUS:
• Arrival:
School begins officially at 8:00 A.M. for Middle School and High School students and 8:10 for Elementary students. The morning check–in helps staff to know which children might be having a difficult morning so that it can be addressed.
• Lateness: 
If, for whatever reason your child is late (after 8:30) he/she should report directly to the office.
Parents bringing a child to School after 8:30am should bring him/her directly to the office, NOT to the classroom. Parents must notify the office of how the child is to go home that afternoon. [If you intend him/her to go home on the bus, you must call the bus company and let them know.] Office personnel will facilitate your child’s smooth entry to the classroom.


OFFICE OF PUPIL TRANSPORTATION:
Any communication with the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) should be addressed to:
44-36 Vernon Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
Contact: Mr. George Ortiz
OPT Customer Service Hotline: (718) 392-8855
An additional phone number is 718-784–3313. We suggest that any telephone call you make to the OPT be followed up by a letter to confirm your conversation.


SUBWAY PASSES:
If you wish your child to take the bus or subway every day instead of riding the school bus, please let the School know. Tell us the exact bus and/or subway number which your child will be taking (e.g., M17 or #7 subway) and which stops he/she will be using at either end of the trip. We fill in this information on a form, and forward it to OPT. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for this form to be processed. These passes can only be used during certain hours of the day. The hours are specified on the pass.
PLEASE NOTE: Your child is entitled to either ride the school bus each day or to have a bus/subway pass, but not both.