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Know Your Rights: Transportation Services

Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC)

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)

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Who We Are

  • Mass Advocates for Children (MAC)
    • Jakira Rogers
      • Program Director, Racial Equity and Access Program (Boston)
    • Audrey Wynne, Esq.
      • Staff Attorney
    • MAC is a nonprofit organization which advocates for educational equity for all students. MAC provides assistance to children and families so they can overcome significant barriers to education.
  • Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)
    • Alison Sexson, Esq.
      • Education Attorney
    • GBLS is committed to providing legal services to children from low-income families within the Boston area; children who attend a BPS school; or children who participate in the METCO program.

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Overview of Transportation Rights

Types of services:

    • Door-to-Door
    • Bus Monitor 🡪 1:1 General, or Seizure Trained

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BPS is Required to:

    • Timely Notify You About Inadequate or Disrupted Transportation Services
    • Train Bus Monitors
    • Ensure the Bus Monitor Knows Your Child’s Needs

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Possible Remedies for Transportation Failure:

    • Compensatory Education Services
    • Reimbursement

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Compensatory Services

What They Are:

    • Make Up Services For Missed, Interrupted, or Inaccessible IEP Services.

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When Your Child is Entitled to Them:

    • Repeated Transportation Issues Caused by BPS Which Results in Your Child Missing Hours/Days of Special Education Services

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What You Can Do

  1. Make a Record:
      • Include the Dates When BPS Created a Transportation Issue
      • Explain the Transportation Issue

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  • Communicate the Record to School/BPS:
      • Email the List to School Principal and Coordinator of Special Education (COSE)
      • Communicating In Writing Is Always Best

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  • Request an IEP Team Meeting:
      • Email the Principal or COSE

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IEP Team Meeting

Use the IEP Team meeting to:

    • Discuss Short-term And Long-term Solutions To Any Ongoing Transportation Issues
        • Request the Solutions Be Put In Writing

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    • Discuss Compensatory Education Services
        • Your Student May Need To Make Up Services They Lost Due To Transportation Issues
          • (For Example, If Your Student Missed Speech Or Counseling Services Ask For Those Services To Be Made Up)

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Reimbursement

  • BPS is Required to Reimburse You For Any Transportation Related Expenses:
    • Mileage (at the state rate)
    • Cost of Arranged Alternative Transportation Services
    • Uber or Lyft

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  • Not Required for Reimbursement:
    • Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number 

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  • More information:
    • BPS Reimbursement webpage: https://www.massadvocates.org/bps-reimbursement
    • BPS helpline at 617-635-8873
    • Email helpline@bostonpublicschools.org

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Additional Resources and Support

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MAC QR Code