Bus Pass Information

Current School Year Online School Bus Pass

Assistance Needed to Access PUSD Online Information? - Please email the PUSD Help Desk for assistance at [email protected]. For all other fee or general transportation questions call the Transportation Department: 858 679-2636.

 

Because the State of California has ruled that transportation for regular education students is not an integral part of the education process and therefore does not fully reimburse school districts for this expense, the Poway Unified School District offers transportation services for regular education students on a fee basis only. The current charge for a full year-round trip bus pass is $950. Semester-only passes are available at a reduced fee. Over the past 20 years, the parents of our District have contributed a total of more than $20 million to ensure that they continue to have access to home-to-school transportation for regular education students.

 

Bus pass applications are accepted beginning on July 1 in preparation for the upcoming school year. Applications are processed and bus passes are issued in time for school to start at the end of August.

Any questions about eligibility for transportation services or bus pass processing should be directed to either the transportation representative at your child's school or to the Fees for Transportation Services Coordinator at 858-748-0010 extension 2061.

PLEASE SEE THE MESSAGE BELOW REGARDING CHANGES TO ELIGIBILITY FOR TRANSPORTATION

 

Dear PUSD Families,

Poway Unified has long provided safe and efficient bus transportation for our students. Over the last several years, providing these services has become increasingly more difficult. A shortage of available bus drivers has significantly impeded our ability to provide transportation services at the level our students require. This last school year, in spite of aggressive recruitment efforts, we were short 30 bus drivers almost the entire year. This resulted in buses being loaded to capacity and often delayed in their arrival times to schools. Compounding this, California legislators passed a first-of-its-kind law requiring that public high schools begin classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m., and that middle schools start no earlier than 8 a.m. The passage of this law reduced our transportation department’s flexibility to stagger bus routes, exacerbating the driver-shortage problem. Our first priority in the school year ahead will be to provide reliable, on-time home-to-school transportation services for students accessing mandated bussing as well as for as many other students that we can accommodate. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this challenging situation. The following changes are effective August 2024:

 

Reduced Number of General Education Routes

• Starting this school year, we reduced the number of general education routes for home to school transportation from 25 to 13. 
• The cost of an annual bus pass for remaining general education routes is $950 annually. NOTE: It costs PUSD approximately $1,550 annually to transport one student, so PUSD will continue to subsidize bus passes $600 annually.
• We continue to actively recruit bus drivers and provide paid training so we can meet the transportation demands in our community (prioritizing legal mandates and safety concerns).

Adjusted Non-Transportable Boundaries

• Non-transportable boundaries increased by half a mile for each grade level.
• Non-eligible students may apply for a bus pass for assignment to an existing stop for their school by exception. This requires a case-by-case review for approval by PUSD Transportation Administration, and is subject to space and availability. Approval and assignment to an existing stop may be delayed through August 28 to first allow for eligible student riders to be assigned seats. 

Updated Information on Eligibility and Bus Schedules

• Follow the link to General Ed Bus Eligibility by Address
• Follow the link to Bus Schedules by School Site

 

PUSD Transportation Department