***The 2023-24 Non-Public School Transportation Request form is available to download at the bottom of this page.***

PLEASE NOTE: The New York State deadline for submission of 2023-24 Non-public School Transportation requests is April 1, 2023.

The Bedford Central School District provides transportation for in excess of 350 students to 26 non-public school locations in accordance with New York State Education Department Regulations and Bedford Central School District Board of Education policies.

New York State Education Law requires all non-city school districts to provide transportation to students enrolled in non-public schools up to a distance of 15 miles.  The distance in each case is measured from the students home to the school on publicly maintained highways by Transfinder, the computerized bus routing program used by the District.

In order to obtain transportation for their students, parents must file a written request for transportation with the Transportation Department by April 1st of the preceding school year; or within 30 days of establishing residency in the school district. 

(A link to the District's Non-Public School Transportation Request form can be found at the bottom of this page.)

Non-Public School Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the distance eligibility requirements for non-public school transportation?
A. Eligibility for non-public school transportation is based on the distance between the home address of record and the school of attendance. This distance is calculated over publicly maintained roads by Transfinder, the computer software program used by the District.

• In-District Schools - Per Board of Education policy, transportation is provided to all students in grades kindergarten through 12 residing more than 1/2 mile from the school they attend.
• Out-of-District Schools - Per New York State Education Department regulations, transportation is provided to all students up to a distance of 15 miles from their home address of record to the school of attendance. 

Q. What if my home address is more than 15 miles from the school I would like my child(ren) to attend?
A. Provided that a bus to the school has been established by a distance eligible student, students residing more than 15 miles from their school may ride the bus from/to a designated pick-up point. The designated pick-up point must be a public school within the District boundaries. 

Q. What is the minimum age requirement for transportation to a non-public school?
A. Similar to public schools, kindergarten students must be five (5) years of age prior to December 1st of the current school year to be eligible for transportation. 

Q. Are parents of non-public school students required to request transportation to the non-public school?A.Yes. Parents must submit a non-public school transportation request form by April 1st of the preceeding school year. A seperate request form must be submitted for each student. Students who are new residents to the District must submit a written request within thirty (30) days of establishing residency in the District to be eligible for transportation. In addition to the transportation request form, new District residents must provide two (2) forms of proof of residency. The following are acceptable forms of proof of residency:

• A copy of a deed, mortgage statement, tax bill, lease agreement or rent receipt, AND
• A copy of a current utility bill (telephone, electric, etc.)

Q. Does a transportation request form have to be submitted every year?
A. Yes. A new request form must be submitted prior to April 1st every year. Request forms do not carry over from year to year. 

Q. Where can I obtain a transportation request form?
A. A link to the Transportation Request Form can be found at the bottom of this page. The form can also be obtained from your child's school or the Transportation Department. 

Q. When is a request considered to be "late"?
A. A request is "late" if filed after the April 1 deadline by a current District resident or more than thirty (30) days after moving into the District for new residents. 

Q. Are school districts required to honor "late" requests?
A. School districts must honor a late request if the student is distance eligible, a bus to the requested school has already been established, there is sufficient space on the current bus for the student and there is no additional cost to the District to provide transportation. 

Q. How can I obtain bus schedule information for my child(ren)?
A. Letters providing bus schedule information are mailed to all students in the first two weeks of August prior to the start of the school year.  Schedule information can also be obtained by contacting the Transportation Department. 

Q. What if I would like my child(ren) picked- up or dropped-off at a location other than my home address (day care, sitter, after school program)?
A. If you would like your children picked-up or dropped-off at a location other than your home address, an Alternate Stop/Day Care request must be submitted to the Transportation Department.  The location of the alternate stop must be within the boundaries of the District and must be within fifteen (15) miles of the students non-public school.  We are not authorized to pick-up or drop-off students outside the District boundaries other than their school of attendance. Transportation is NOT provided to after school activities (dance classes, tae kwon do, etc.) or any type of religious instruction. 

Q. When will transportation start for my child at the beginning of the school year?

A. Transportation for non-public school students begins on the first scheduled day for Bedford Central School District public schools.

Q. Will transportation be provided on days my child's non-public school is in session but Bedford Central School District schools are not in session?
A. Transportation is provided according to the calendar provided by each non-public school except for the following days when transportation is NOT provided:

• September 4, 2023
• October 9, 2023
• November 10, 2023
• November 23, 2023
• January 1, 2024
• January 15, 2024
• February 19, 2024
• May 27, 2024
• June 19, 2024

Transportation to non-public schools will not be provided in the event of a closure due to inclement weather in either the Bedford Central School District or the district in which the non-public school is located. In the event of a delayed opening for the Bedford Central School District, non-public schools will operate on the same delay.