Responsibilities when Using Student OMNY Cards
Families receiving OMNY cards from the NYC Department of Education should:
- Review our Transportation Safety Tips and the MTA's Riding Safely page
- Use the student OMNY card provided by the school when getting on the bus or entering the subway station
- Keep the student OMNY card in a safe and secure location to prevent loss, theft, and damage
- Immediately report lost, stolen, or damaged student OMNY cards to the school; speak with station attendant to request help if your card does not work
- Not share the student OMNY card; there is only one authorized user per card
Responsibilities when Riding a School Bus
- Immediately update your school and bus driver with any changes to residence, bus stop, contact information, or emergency contact information
- Follow the Citywide Behavioral Expectations to Support Student Learning and all posted school bus and mass transit rules
- Review the DOE’s Transportation Safety Tips and discuss them with your child
- Follow requests from bus staff
- Remain secured by the seatbelt or, if required, occupant mobility device (e.g., wheelchair, car seat, safety vest)
- Accept assistance from the driver or attendant when necessary
- Approach the bus only after it comes to a complete stop
- Use only the front door to enter and exit the bus, and use the handrail when entering and leaving the bus
- Allow the driver to operate the bus without any disruption, distraction, or interference
- Stay seated at all times with aisles clear unless directed otherwise by driver or attendant
- In the event of a short stop, large unsecured items can pose a serious hazard to students and staff on the bus. As such, large items, including but not limited to bikes, scooters, large toys, and other items as determined by bus staff and/or OPT are not permitted on the bus. Students must follow the bus driver’s determination as to what is and is not allowed on the bus.
- Communicate in a courteous and respectful manner with bus staff and peers
- Keep hands, head and objects away from open windows
- On the first day of the school year, be ready and at the bus stop 5-10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive
- Be at the bus stop on time so that no delay occurs for others; 5 minutes prior to bus arrival is suggested
Specialized Transportation Bus Riders
- Families must complete the Emergency Contact Card for their bus driver
- Families must update the school and bus driver with information about all who are authorized to receive your child
- If a student has any medical or health conditions that might affect their well-being on the bus, their caregiver should work with their IEP team or OPT to request individualized support (such as a paraprofessional or nurse) to address the conditions
- If an authorized individual is not present to receive your child from the school bus, your child may not be left with an unauthorized individual; the driver and/or attendant are to notify the dispatcher immediately and await further instruction
- Families may elect a designee, another family member, neighbor, etc., to receive their child, and may further elect to permit the bus driver to deliver their child without an authorized individual present by submitting this information in writing to their school principal and bus driver
Parent Not At Home Policy
In the event the school bus arrives at a student's destination and there is no adult at the stop to receive the student, OPT has developed the procedures outlined below.
Curb-to-School (Special Education) Busing
As a standard school practice with curb to school, parents and guardians must complete an emergency contact form that identifies the adults who are authorized to receive their student(s) from the bus.* The parent or guardian also has the option on the form to identify if the child can be left unattended. Drivers may ask for identification before releasing a student. If an authorized adult is not present for a student receiving curb-to-school service who is not authorized to be left unattended, the following procedures will be followed:
- The driver will radio their base to inform dispatch and continue to drop off the other students on the bus route and then return to the student's home stop.
- If an authorized adult is still not there, the driver will radio the dispatcher who will contact OPT to determine if there is a pre-existing agreement to return the student to the school.
- If there is no agreement, OPT will make the final determination when 911 should be contacted and the police will determine the best course of action.
- If the student's stop is the final one on the route, the driver will radio the dispatcher who will contact OPT to determine the appropriate waiting time before calling 911.
Stop-to-School (General Education) Busing
For a student receiving stop-to-school service, the following procedures will be followed:
- Any student, regardless of age or grade, will be allowed to get off the bus at any stop unless a school has negotiated a different procedure, or the student informs the driver that they want to remain on board. If, at the end of the route, students remain on the bus, the driver will return the students to the appropriate stop.
- If a parent or guardian is still not at the stop, and. the student chooses not to leave the bus, the driver will radio the dispatcher who will contact OPT to determine if there is a pre-existing agreement to return the student to the school.
- If there is no agreement, OPT will make the final determination when 911 should be contacted and the police will determine the best course of action.
- If the student's stop is the final one on the route, the driver will radio the dispatcher who will contact OPT to determine the appropriate waiting time before calling 911.
* While there is no age restriction on the person who meets the student, we would expect that person to be competent and, if the driver or attendant have concerns in that regard, they should use their discretion in deciding whether to release the student.