7 Things to know during school bus driver strike

NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City school bus drivers are on strike, but the Department of Education has come up with plans to help minimize the pain for parents and students.

Here are 7 things to know during the duration of the strike:

1. All students who currently receive yellow bus service may receive a MetroCard. MetroCards are being made available at the schools and should be requested through your school's general office.

2. Parents of pre-school and school-age children with IEP's requiring transportation from their home directly to their school as well as parents of general education children in grades K-2 may also request a MetroCard for the parent or guardian to act as the child's escort to school.

3. As an alternative to MetroCards for parents whose children receive busing from their home, or students in grades K-6 receiving yellow bus service from a school bus stop who live in areas where public transportation between home and school is not readily available, the Department of Education is offering reimbursement for actual transportation costs. Parents who drive their children to school will be reimbursed are a rate of 55 cents per mile. Parents who use a taxi or car service to transport their child to school will be reimbursed for the trip upon completion of reimbursement forms that includes a receipt for provided services. Requests for reimbursements should be made weekly on forms that will be available on the DOE web site and in your school's general office. We encourage families driving or using car service to carpool with their neighbors whenever possible.

4. Students who arrive at school late because of disruptions to yellow bus service will be excused for up to two hours, while children who are unable to attend school will be marked absent with an explanation code that will ensure their attendance record is not negatively affected.

5. Afterschool programs will remain open, but no school busing will be provided.

6. In the unfortunate event that students cannot get to school, the Department will be posting materials online for every grade and core subject so that students can continue their learning at home during the strike.

7. The NYPD will deploy additional transit officers and crossing guards to help manage an increase in the number of students using public transportation and walking to school. Additional school safety officers will also be deployed to public schools.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/Transportation/default

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