- Pittsburgh Public Schools
- Getting Kids to School
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Getting Kids to School
Responsible for the transportation of all school-aged children that live within the City of Pittsburgh, the District anticipates the need to transport approximately 17,600 students to and from school each day during the 2023-2024 school year. Similar to school districts across the country, Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) must transform its approach to transporting students to limit the impact of a national school bus driver shortage, hitting close to home. This ongoing lack of bus drivers requires the District to take steps to ensure every student has reliable transportation every day.
Listening to the voices of students and families related to high school start times, Pittsburgh Public Schools will implement a new four-tiered transportation plan for the 2023-2024 school year. The plan will add a fourth transportation tier, changing the start time for high school students on Tier 1, 25 minutes, from 7:15 A.M. to 7:40 A.M.
Other changes include:
- The start time for Tier 2 schools will move up by five minutes;
- Nine schools will shift to an updated Tier 3, which adjusts their start times between 15 - 30 minutes;
- Former Tier 3 schools will move to the new Tier 4, adding two schools to the already 12 with a 9:10 A.M. start time; and
- Pittsburgh Pioneer and Pittsburgh Clayton have new start times.
The new bell schedules also support the District’s efforts to provide synchronous professional learning for school-based staff across grade bands, increasing opportunities for teachers to engage with their colleagues across schools on student half-days for professional development.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Transportation
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-Who is eligible for transportation from Pittsburgh Public Schools?
Pittsburgh Public Schools students and students who attend private, parochial, and charter schools are eligible for transportation based on the distance between their home and their assigned school. Transportation eligibility is measured from the nearest point where a private way or private road connects the student's residence to the nearest point where a public road touches the school grounds. Students in grades K-8 are eligible for transportation if they live more than 1.5 miles from school, and students s in grades 9-12 are eligible for transportation if they live more than 2 miles from school.
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- Will the District continue to provide transportation to students that live in the City of Pittsburgh but attend private, parochial or charter schools?
Yes. Yellow bus and Port Authority transportation will be provided for eligible students who attend private, parochial, or charter schools. All students riding yellow buses will be required to wear masks.
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- What is the District doing to address the school bus shortage?
The District’s Transportation Department continues to work to gain efficiencies in transportation services to address the seat gap. Strategies to reduce the seat gap include:
- Increasing walk zones to align with state and Board policy;
- Expanding the use of Port Authority;
- Implementing a three tiered bussing system;
- Working with local carriers to promote job opportunities; and
- Implementing a new transportation system to optimize efficiencies and reduce bus stops, bus ride times, and overcrowding.
- Supporting newly added transportation carriers as they complete onboarding of new drivers;
- Transitioning additional middle school students to Port Authority where feasible;
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- Will transportation be available for all students?
Pittsburgh Public Schools provides transportation to all PPS, Private, Parochial, and Charter school-aged children that live within the City of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh students are transported to 190 buildings (54 PPS and 136 non-PPS).
Like school districts across the country, Pittsburgh Public Schools must transform its approach to transporting students to limit the impact of the national school bus driver shortage, which was exacerbated due to the lack of work during the pandemic.
The District's Transportation Department continues to work to gain efficiencies in transportation services to address the seat gap. Strategies to reduce the seat gap include:
- Increasing walk zones to align with state and Board policy;
- Expanding the use of Port Authority;
- Changing school start and end times (multi-tiered scheduling), increasing the number of routes one driver can run before and after school;
- Working with local carriers to promote job opportunities; and
- Implementing a new transportation system to optimize efficiencies and reduce bus stops, overcrowding, and bus ride times.
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- Will students attending school on a PS-6 transfer receive transportation?
A PS-6 transfer precludes transportation. However, if there is an existing route with space on the bus, your child's principal may request to have your child added.
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- When will the Board vote on the new school start times?
The Board is expected to vote on proposed modifications to the District's three-tiered bussing system at its July 27, Legislative Session.
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- Will students riding yellow busses or vans be required to wear masks and social distance?
Per the District's masking protocol, during low COVID-19 Community Levels,mask use is optional. Masks remain required during Medium and High COVID-19 Community Levels. Accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 plans will occur.
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- What if I do not want to use Yellow Bus or Port Authority transportation?
Families are welcome to transport their children to and from school. To assist with planning, please notify your child’s school if you will be transporting your child or complete a Let's Talk ticket.
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Port Authority:
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- Will my child be required to wear a mask when riding Port Authority transportation?
Students will be required to follow the Port Authority's face-covering policy. To read more about the Port Authorities face covering policy visit https://www.portauthority.org/covid-19/face-coverings/.
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- When will my child receive their student ID/Connect Card?
Schools will provide students with their ID/Connect Card on the first day of school. Students can ride the bus for free on the morning of their first day.
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- Are there tools to help plan my child’s transportation on Port Authority?
Yes, the Port Authority has several tools to help families and students plan. Visit www.portauthority.org to review route information including times, locations, etc. In addition, it is suggested that students download one or more of the avaialble apps to a Smartphone for route information in real time. These apps are all free and provide students with the time and location of their desired bus route.
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- What COVID-19 health and safety precautions are in place with the Port Authority?
The Port Authority follows guidance from federal, state and local authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. To learn more, visit
www.portauthority.org/covid-19/coronavirus-covid19-updates/.
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- Would children be able to catch a school bus rather than take Port Authority bus?
Additional students cannot be added to yellow school buses.