Transportation for Students with Special Needs

Thank you for choosing the Douglas County School District to support your child’s Special Education needs.  

Douglas County Transportation takes great pride in our trained staff and specialized equipment for students with special needs. Our bus drivers and bus assistants go through several weeks of intense training in order to provide the best service for all students. In some cases, we also partner with outside transportation companies that provide services for our special needs students. These companies are thoroughly vetted through our strategic sourcing department and must have additional insurance, provide background checks, pass drug and alcohol testing, and must meet the same standards of training as our own staff.

Transportation Request Process

The process starts with the school and/or caseworker and an IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting. During this meeting, it will be determined if a student is eligible for transportation as a related service.  

If it is determined that transportation is needed:

  1. The case manager will submit the request to DCSD’s Transportation Scheduling Department
  2. Once the Scheduling Department receives the notification, it takes up to 10 business days to finalize transportation arrangements for your child
  3. Once transportation is finalized, a transportation scheduler will notify you via email or phone with bus stop information, type of transportation, and the start date for your student.


Smart Tag Bus Pass for Special Education Students

For safety and security purposes, all students who ride DCSD buses are required to have a  Smart Tag Bus Pass. In accordance with Free Appropriate Public Education for Students With Disabilities: Requirements Under Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004, students with Transportation as a related service as part of their IEP will not be charged to access the school bus. However, they must still present a Smart Tag bus passd to scan when getting on and off the bus. If your child is unable to perform this task, the driver or assistant on the bus can assist in scanning the card. Students will receive their bus pass from their driver.


How to Request Changes in Transportation for Your Student

Please contact your child’s school or case manager directly to request any changes to your child’s transportation. DCSD’s Transportation Department is unable to make any changes until a case manager is notified and a new transportation request is submitted to our Transportation Scheduling Department.


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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).