TRANSPORTATION
This chapter examines Robstown Independent School District's (RISD's) transportation operations in two sections:
The purpose of a school district's transportation department is to deliver timely, efficient and safe transportation services to all students.
BACKGROUND
The Texas Education Code authorizes school districts to provide student transportation services between school and home, from school to career and technology training destinations and for extracurricular activities. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires districts to treat students with disabilities the same way the district treats general population students. IDEA also requires districts to provide transportation services to students who must travel to receive special education services.
The Texas Education Code allows school districts to receive state funding for the transportation of regular and special education students between home and school, and of career and technology students to and from vocational training locations. A district may apply for and receive up to an additional 10 percent of its regular transportation allotment for transportation of children living within two miles of the school who would otherwise be subject to hazardous conditions if they walked to school. As stated in Texas Education Code 42.155 (d), a hazardous condition exists where no walkway is provided and children must walk along or cross a freeway or expressway, underpass, overpass or a bridge, uncontrolled major traffic artery, an industrial or commercial area or another comparable condition.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) reimburses districts for qualifying expenses according to a formula based on linear density as specified by the Education Code. Linear density is the average number of eligible regular education students transported daily divided by the approved daily route miles traveled. TEA uses this calculation to assign each school district to one of seven groups eligible to receive a different maximum per-mile reimbursement. TEA evaluates these group assignments every two years by recalculating linear density with data from the first of the previous two school years.