Transportation

QACPS Administrative Services

The Department of Transportation is responsible for safe, effective, timely and economical transportation of students. It is also responsible for planning, monitoring, and coordinating daily operations, training of all over-the-road personnel, and inspection of equipment.

Approximately 7,800 students are enrolled in Queen Anne’s County Public Schools this year and a large majority of these students will be riding the familiar yellow school bus. We operate 87 buses that will travel over 2,093,267 miles during the school year.

Bus Safety

RESPECT THE BIG YELLOW AND OBEY THE RED

Motorists are reminded of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Law that requires the driver of a vehicle to come to a complete stop for a school bus loading or unloading pupils with the red warning lights activated. When the red lights are engaged and the stop arm is employed, it means students are getting on or off school buses AND MOTORISTS ARE REQUIRED TO STOP. 

Motorists are also advised that buses operate with an 8 light warning system.   School bus drivers flash their yellow-amber lights at least 100 feet in advance as they approach a stop and do not activate the red lights until they are fully stopped. The message is clear: Prepare to stop and do not run the warning lights!

Policies & Procedures

School bus transportation is a privilege. This privilege may be temporarily denied or permanently revoked if misconduct of your child jeopardizes the safe operation of the school bus or the safety of pupils riding the bus. Parents are responsible to see that their children attend school despite loss of riding privileges. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for the behavior and safety of their children until the time of boarding the bus in the morning, and from departing the bus at the end of the school day. Once the child enters the school bus, the authority to manage student conduct lies with the bus driver and the school administration.

Conduct Standards & Rules of Behavior

Behavior or activity jeopardizing safe operation of the school bus or interfering with the welfare of other vehicle occupants is prohibited. All existing county policies are in effect while students are on the bus.

Keep your riding privilege by following the rules:

  1. Bus driver can/will assign seats
  2. Cooperate with the driver
  3. Observe the same conduct as in the classroom
  4. Remain seated and face forward
  5. Be courteous and talk quietly
  6. Keep the bus clean
  7. No eating or drinking on the bus
  8. Respect the property of others
  9. Keep head, hands, and feet inside the bus
  10. Place personal items on lap or under your seat

Sanctions for Misconduct

For any misconduct occurring on a school bus, the school administrative staff will take appropriate action, which may include, but is not limited to: a parent conference, seat change, loss of privilege, restitution, and a bus and/or school suspension.

Without limiting other available actions or remedies, the school administrative staff is authorized to secure restitution for vandalism caused by students to school buses, using the same procedures available for recovery of damages to school property.

Parent Responsibility

Pre-K, K, 1st, and 2nd grade students must have someone accompany them to and from the bus stop. Parents are urged to assist their children in developing a respect for and a sense of safety concerning all of the related operations of the school bus.

Parents are urged to play a role when the child leaves home to walk to the bus stop and to supervise the child’s behavior at the bus stop. Parents should see to it that their child arrives at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the regularly scheduled arrival time. Bus drivers will not wait for tardy students since any wait will adversely affect the established time schedules for many other students.

One morning and one afternoon stop location shall be allowed for each transported student. Exceptions will be made only in case of an emergency or when extenuating circumstances exist. This shall be approved by the school Principal.

Pupils must board their bus and be discharged from their bus at the assigned stops. Permission to use a different bus stop may be granted on a temporary basis if approved by the school Principal and provided that the request does not involve a bus assignment/route change. Bus drivers must be notified by the school Principal.

Parents are reminded that students must ride their assigned bus. Any deviation must be approved in  advance by the principal or designee. Vacations, temporary work assignments, social events, riding to a friend’s home, or other foreseen events will not be approved for change in bus assignment. Under short-term emergency situations only the principal may approve a different bus assignment.

Authorized School Bus Passengers

Other than eligible students, those who are legally entitled to ride school buses are school bus drivers and designated employees. Parents and other adults who are designated by the school principals as chaperones may ride the bus while on educational field trips. Meetings with drivers can be scheduled through the school so buses are not delayed during the route.

Resources

QACPS Transportation Handbook

Transportation Handbook for Students with Disabilities

Pupil Transportation Policy

Regular School Hours (All Schools)

Boundary Map Locator

Elementary School Zones

Middle School Zones

High School Zones

Bus Stop Survey (Report Issues / Request Change of Pick-Up Location)

Alternate Bus Transportation Request

News Story: QACPS Adds Cameras to Buses

Driver Appreciation Form

Rudy’s Bus Safety Rules for Kids

Contacts

Mr. John Murdoch
Coordinator of Transportation
Queen Anne’s County Public Schools
202 Chesterfield Avenue
Centreville, MD 21617
410-758-0489
[email protected]