The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) only permits private companies to provide transportation in school systems for after-school field trips, not daily school transportation.
With more buses completing their routes on time, we expect to have buses available for athletic team transportation. Currently, the delays have impacted the availability of buses for athletic team transportation and necessitated postponement.
The new school start time plan will be implemented for general bussing, which makes up the majority of all student transportation. However, we know that improvements must be made to our specialized transportation service, including buses that serve students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or who are in prekindergarten, along with buses that serve Cedar Lane School and Homewood Center.
UPDATE: Sept. 17, 2023
Students/families may find their bus pickup/drop-off times via the following:
The entire school schedule, including arrival and dismissal times, will change by the same amount as the school's start time adjustment. For instance, if the start time is 10 minutes earlier, dismissal will also be 10 minutes earlier. The total time spent in school remains the same.
Half-day program schedules will shift by the same interval as the start time change. For example, if the school start time shifts 10 minutes later, half-day program start times will also shift 10 minutes later.
Just as HCPSS included all schools in three similar tiers to start this school year, schools must remain on similar schedules to support the on-time arrival of school buses. This helps staff who serve multiple schools fulfill their duties and ensures coverage. It also allows for flexibility across the system in case of unforeseen delays like driver shortages and weather disruptions.
The Howard County Board of Education adjusted the HCPSS school start times for the 2023-2024 year in February 2023. The plan adopted by the Board results in start times occurring in three tiers.
The school start times will be Tier 1 7:50 a.m., Tier 2 middle schools 8:30 a.m., Tier 2 elementary schools 8:45 a.m., Tier 3 9:25 a.m. A complete list of current and new times can be found online.
Eligible students at the following schools are provided bus transportation from Zum Services:
Location permissions are not required for app usage. It will affect how the map on the home screen displays but will not impact parent/guardian ability to track the bus on the Rides screen.
