Transportation Overview
District 303 bus drivers carry “the world’s most precious cargo” on over 1 million plus miles of road per year. Each day, the safety and security of your child is always treated with the highest priority on our buses and throughout our District.
Bus Routes
All students who are eligible will be given a designated pick-up and drop-off stop location; these stops must follow specific criteria determined by ISBE and District 303 guidelines. Common FAQ's can be found by clicking the link below. Please remember to have your student at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to scheduled pick-up time. For more information about determining bus stop assignments, review "STOP INFORMATION"
You will also find access to your student's route information within your parent application. This will allow you to track your student's bus and personalize your experience. Please follow the information below to access MyView.
***Don't forget WACKY WEDNESDAYS - HS/MS Early Release weekly; ELEMENTARY Early Release once a month***
New to Bussing 2026-2027
Late bus communication will be sent out to parents when routes are running 10 minutes or more behind. Please reference your "MYVIEW PARENT" application for the updated ETA.
Zonar MyView for Android (Google Play)
Stop Information
All students who are eligible will be given a designated pick-up and drop-off stop location; these stops must follow specific criteria determined by ISBE and District 303 guidelines. Common FAQ's can be found below.
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How far can a bus stop be from the student's home?
Bus stops may be up to 1/2 mile from the student's residence. The stops in District 303 are far less than 1/2 mile from students' residences.
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Why is there an address stop on the route if buses don't make home stops?
Address stops may occur for a special education student on a regular route, at a midpoint on a long street, on a four-lane road, or on a midday kindergarten route.
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I can't see the bus stop from my house.
District 303 provides transportation for over 10,000 students. We are not able to position bus stops so that all parents are able to see the stop from their home.
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The bus drives right past my house. Why can't it stop at my house?
The higher frequency of stops makes the motoring public impatient. This results in people driving around the bus, which is dangerous. It also delays the bus by increasing the number of stops and makes the student ride time longer. Stops are placed to be convenient for groups of students in the subdivision.
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Why do some children have to cross the street to board the bus?
We are not able to route buses so that all children can board the bus on the door side. We suggest that, if you prefer, children wait on the side of the street where they reside. The bus will stop traffic in all directions to accommodate students who need to cross the street
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My child is starting Kindergarten. Will the bus pick my child up in front of the house?
In order to be consistent and fair in the placement of bus stops, District 303 is not able to establish stops based on personal circumstances.
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Can my student ride on another bus than what they are routed on?
No. Students are only permitted to ride the bus they are assigned to and to and from the designated stops. We are not able to accommodate intermittent changes or friend ride-alongs.
TRANSPORATION FAQ
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We live on a cul-de-sac. Will the bus come down our street?
Except for special education circumstances, buses are generally not routed into a cul-de-sac. Cul-de-sac stops are considered unwise for the following reasons:
- Cul-de-sac stops create blind spots, often causing students to enter or exit in a danger zone around the bus (at a corner stop or street curb stop, they enter/exit outside the danger zone).
- Maneuvering a bus in a cul-de-sac is difficult.
- The rear of the bus has potential to swing around close to the sidewalk.
- Parked cars and other obstacles create road hazards that may not be seen until entering the cul-de-sac and at a point of no return.
- Backing up a bus when students are on board is strictly forbidden.
- Property damage to mailboxes and landscaping.
Buses come in various lengths, widths, heights, and weights. The length is what limits the school bus to be maneuvered in cul-de-sacs and tight places. Most subdivisions are not designed with school bus transportation in mind.
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How far can a bus stop be from the student's home?
Bus stops may be up to 1/2 mile from the student's residence. The stops in District 303 are far less than 1/2 mile from students' residences. Transportation Services is responsible for transporting students to and from their designated bus stop. Families are responsible for ensuring their student gets safely to the bus stop for pick-up and home from the bus stop after drop-off.
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Why can't you call when you know the bus will be late?
A notification is sent if a route is running more than 10 minutes late. Parents are encouraged to download the Bus Tracker app to monitor their student's bus location. Instructions on how to use the app are found on the district website.
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My child does not qualify for transportation service, but goes to a babysitter that does qualify for transportation service. Can my child ride the bus to and from the babysitter?
No. Transportation service is based on the home address.
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Is my student eligible for transportation?
The District has established walking requirements based on state regulations and guidelines. "Self-Transport School Zone"
Districts that are required to provide free transportation must transport all public school students enrolled in kindergarten through Grade 12 who live more than one and one-half miles from their assigned attendance center. Statutory Citation: 105 ILCS 5/29-5
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I would like to submit a comment about a specific school bus. How should I proceed?
As required by law, the school district has a driving hotline number. If you would like to make a compliment or complaint, please call the driving hotline and leave a message. The messages are transcribed and presented to the bus driver for review and response. When calling the driving hotline, please include the following information:
- The Bus number, which is on the bus an/or the route number, which is displayed on the side of the bus next to the door.
- When and where the incident occurred. Please include both a date and time.
- A description of the event being reported
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What do I do if my student shares times between households?
If a student has a dual-residency situation, families should reach out to their school coordinators for guidance.
Bus Safety
District 303 Transportation takes great pride in their record of safety and service to the students and families of the District. These transportation pros know that both drivers and passengers have to work together in order to ensure a safe ride to school.
Students who use our bus service can greatly increase their own safety by following a few easy guidelines:
- Be on time for the bus. Students should arrive 5 minutes BEFORE the designated pick-up time to ensure they are at the stop before the bus arrives.
- Use caution when entering or exiting the bus.
- Stay on your side of the road - far from traffic.
- Wait for the bus to stop and for your driver to signal to cross.
- Check traffic in both directions - then check it again!
- Cross the street directly and do not linger in the road.
- Walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
- Never crawl under a school bus.
- Keep hands, feet, and head in the bus at all times.
- Avoid using gadgets near buses. Headphones, cell phones, and/or any electronic devices which could cause distraction from knowing when a bus is approaching.
- Remove, shorten, or replace drawstrings on backpacks and clothing as they can catch in school bus doors.
Restricted Items
Because of the potential for disrupting the school bus driver, certain items are not to be brought on the bus. Some examples of such items could be, but are not limited to:
- Skateboards
- Cameras
- Sleds
- Snowboards/ hoverboards
- Laser lights
- Skates
- Toys
- Sports Equipment - allow if held within your seating assignment
- Large instruments - allow if held within your seating assignment
In some cases, the student may seek approval from the Transportation Director or Building Administrator for special situations (i.e., field trips, athletic trips, etc.).
Forms
Transportation Staff
Director of Transportation
Transportation Manager
Transportation Safety Manager
Administrative Assistant - Transportation
Special Education Router
