Skip Navigation Links
Parents and Local School Districts
For Schools

Other MOESC Websites:

 

Questions regarding Non-Public School Students


Back to list of FAQs

Q. Are there any limits on non-public school transportation?

A. Yes, there are several limits on non-public school transportation.  They are:


  • The school must be a nonprofit school;
  • The school must be located within the state;
  • The school may be located no more than 20 miles from the student’s home;
  • The cost of the transportation may not exceed the maximum expenditure set by law each year ($884 for the 2008-09 school year);
  • Students must be in grades K-12; and
  • Students must meet the entrance age requirements for the public school students in the school district.

If the cost of the transportation to be provided to the nonpublic school student will exceed the annual maximum expenditure, then the school district may not provide the transportation, but instead must pay the student’s parent or legal guardian that amount in lieu of transportation, known as aide in lieu (AIL).

Q.  Why does my child have to walk to a stop when students in my town who attend the local school get picked up at their homes?

A.  Several reasons for corner stops or centralized stops exist as follows:

  • Clustering students at stops shorten the length of a bus route;
  • Students attending a nonpublic school usually do not reside in a concentrated area, therefore, mutually equi-distant stops are sought;
  • A route was designed with multiple stops which was not bid on leaving your child without transportation. Often a new route is designed utilizing centralized stops upon which a contractor will bid.

Q.    Why did my child receive busing in prior years and not this year?

A.    There may be several reasons or conditions that may answer this question as   follows:                                          

  • Decreased school enrollment making the bus at a low capacity which disallows a contract renewal due to the nonpublic per pupil cap;
  • No contractor submitted a bid on the route(s);
  • The lowest bid received exceeded the per pupil cap the state of New Jersey places on transportation for nonpublic students. The current cap for the 2008-09 school year is $884 per year or a daily rate of $4.91 (NJSA 18A:39-1)

Q.  My child is assigned to a bus route, but I would prefer to receive the allotted aid-in-lieu (AIL) payment of $884.  How can I accomplish this?

A.  If there is a bus in your area, you are not entitled to AIL as your district has been able to secure transportation for you.  AIL is paid only when no transportation can be provided after competitive bidding.

Q.   My nonpublic school of choice assured me that my kindergarten student would be eligible for transportation, but I am now being informed that my kindergartner is not entitled to busing.   Please explain.

A.  In accordance with NJSA 18A:38-5 and 18A:44-2 nonpublic students shall meet the entrance age requirement for the public school students of their resident district board.  Your nonpublic school may not be aware of local board policies.

Q.   It is August 31 and I have just been informed that my child does not have a bus.  Why was I not notified earlier?

A.  In accordance with 6A:27-2.3 the district board of education shall notify the parents of the nonpublic school student and the nonpublic school administrator by August 1.  The MOESC informs the district board of education via a written report students who are eligible to receive AIL during the third week of July.  We assure that they are received by requesting a district administrator to sign a receipt of same.

Q.   My child is not receiving a bus this year.  Is it possible to drive to a stop of an existing route?  Am I required to pay for this type of transportation?

A.  It is possible to join an existing route with district approval and providing there is room on the vehicle.  You do not have to pay for the transportation, but if your child rides the bus, you are not entitled to AIL.  Your district will be charged for this service if it is a route which transports students in a district which you do not reside in, therefore you must seek permission from your local district.

Q.   I am aware of several students who do not take the bus I wish to add my child to rather than receive AIL.  Why can’t my child ride the bus?

A.  The district is required to submit a cancellation form before the MOESC can officially remove students from a bus route.  Your nonpublic school can work with the local district directly if a parent waives permission for his/her child(ren) to be removed from the bus roster.