Dear New Yorker,
As you may know, yellow school bus drivers in New York City are in labor negotiations with the NYC Department of Education (DOE). We are hopeful that all parties involved will come to an agreement that allows New York City students to attend classes without any interruption to school bus service. However, there is a possibility of a strike. If this occurs, it is essential that all students currently using yellow bus service have alternative transportation to and from school.
Below is information that we have received from the DOE about what to do in the event of a bus driver strike. Please contact your local school, 311 or the Office of Pupil Transportation at (718) 392-8855 for more information.
MetroCards
- All students who currently receive yellow bus service may receive a MetroCard. These MetroCards are being made available at your local school and should be requested through each school's general office.
- Parents of pre-school and school-age children with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) requiring transportation from their home directly to their school as well as parents of general education children in grades K-2 may also request a MetroCard for the parent or guardian to act as the child's escort to school.
Transportation Reimbursement
- The DOE is offering reimbursement for actual transportation costs (subject to DOE guidelines) for students in grades K-6 who receive yellow bus service from home or a school bus stop and live in areas where public transportation is not readily available.
- Parents who drive their children to school will be reimbursed are a rate of 55 cents per mile.
- Parents who use a taxi or car service to transport their child to school will be reimbursed for the trip upon completion of reimbursement forms that includes a receipt for provided services.
- Requests for reimbursements should be made weekly on forms that will be made available on the DOE website and in each school's general office.
Home School
- In the unfortunate event that students cannot get to school, the DOE will be posting materials online for every grade and core subject so that students can continue their learning at home during the strike.
Again, for additional information about what to do in the event of a bus driver strike, please call your school, 311 or the Office of Pupil Transportation at (718) 392-8855.
And if you have any other questions or concerns regarding your child's education, please don't hesitate to contact Nick Rolf in Speaker Quinn's office. He can be reached by telephone at (212) 442-5765 or by email at nrolf@council.nyc.gov.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
Robert Jackson
Chair, Education Committee
NYC Council