Frequently Asked Questions - Bus Pass

Bus registration will open May 15th for the 2023-2024 school year.

Address Locator

    Questions? Contact Us!

    Bus Questions - Email  click here
    (Bus@Westfordk12.us) Preferred contact is through email.
    There will be no in-person public bus pass registration.

    (978) 692-5560 ext. 2119

    Dee Bus: (978) 392-8639

    FAQs

    1. How is a fee or no fee determined?

    The school department will follow school transportation eligibility criteria of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

    All children in grades K-6 who reside more than 2 miles from the school they are district zoned to attend, are qualified for No Fee transportation services. Children in grades K-6 who live 2 miles or less from the school they are district zoned to attend, and all students in grades 7-12 are required to pay a fee to ride the school bus to and/or from school. These fees must be paid in full at time of registration. Bus fees are nonrefundable,

    2. If I do not have to pay a fee for my child/children to ride the school bus to and/or from school, must I register online?

    You must register for a bus pass online, regardless of whether or not you have to pay a fee. 

    3. How is the two mile distance determined for children in grades K-6?

    The two mile distance from a child's school is measured by using the shortest route over a public way from the pupil's residence, as measured from the end of the residence driveway to the closest main entrance driveway of the child's district zoned school.

    4. Will bus passes be issued to all students being transported (fee-based and eligible)?

    Yes, bus passes will be issued to all students registered for bus transportation.  
    Passes will be issued to students who do not have to pay the fee after the online registration form has been completed.
    NOTE: Fee-based students - full payment must be received within 5 days of registration or registration will be removed.
    Every student who plans to ride the bus must register for a bus pass whether it is a fee or no fee.
    Students must have a pass to use bus transportation and will not be able to ride the bus without a pass.  

    5. Must my child carry the bus pass every day? Will bus passes be checked? 

    Yes, every student must have his/her bus pass each day. We recommend that this pass be attached to a backpack or article of clothing so they are quickly available and observable by the school bus driver. Students must present a bus pass to board the bus going to school and to board the bus going to home from school. Abuse of the bus pass system will result in forfeiture of transportation privileges and fees. Criteria for bus discipline and safety, as outlined in the student handbooks, will be in effect whether someone pays a fee or not.

    6. What if the bus pass is lost?

    Contact your school office for a short-term temporary pass. A replacement bus pass will be issued for any lost passes. A $10 fee will be charged for this service  Please email Transportation . Please provide the following information: child's name, current school, current grade, your contact info and address.

    7. Where do the photos for the bus pass come from?

    For the school year 2023-2024 there will be no photo used.

    8. I have a financial hardship. What criteria will be used to determine a reduced or waived fee?

    If your child received a free or reduced priced lunch in the 2022-2023 school year, the bus fee is waived/removed immediately upon completing the online registration.

    **NOTE: You must still submit a completed Transportation Registration in order to use bus transportation and to receive a bus pass-even if your child is receiving free/reduced lunch. 

    9. What method of payment can I use to pay my child/children’s bus fee?

    Cash is NOT accepted.

    You may pay online through MySchoolBucks.com using a credit card or e-check. Bank fee of 3.95% will apply.

    ** From My School Bucks:

     “We now offer 2 payment options. Pay-As-You-Go option using a credit card or e-check will include a 3.95% program/processing fee. OnePay e-check option, pay an annual fee that allows you to make unlimited e-check payments (including school lunches) with no additional transaction fees. Annual cost is $12.95 for 1 student and $26.95 for the family plan (2 or more students).  Please make sure that you select which payment option in your settings.” **If you chose this option please confirm your fee before purchasing. Westford Public schools does not receive the processing fees and cannot refund them. Please reach out to My School Bucks with questions.

    You may also pay by personal check or bank money order, payment must be received within 5 days of online registration or your registration will be removed:

    Check Payment Drop off: You may drop off your check at the mailing address below.
    The MAIN bus payment drop box, located on the outside of the Millennium Building (old preschool entrance) under the overhang, is always accessible. 
    There is NO person to person drop off, NO cash accepted

    .Main Bus Payment Drop BoxMain Bus Payment Drop Box Close Up


    There is also a 2nd payment drop box located inside the doorway of the building's main entrance. 
    This access is only available Monday-Friday 9-3 and closed on weekends and holidays.Alternate Bus Payment Drop Box - Inside Building


    Make checks payable to Westford Public Schools. To ensure proper credit, write your Bus Registration number on the memo line of your check and include a copy of your Bus Registration form with your payment.  Mail payment to Central Office at the address below.

    Westford Public Schools
    Attn: Transportation
    23  Depot Street
    Westford, MA  01886

    To pay by credit card, the process is all done through the online registration. Important note: The charge will appear on your credit card statement as MySchoolBucks. Additional bank fee of 3.95%will be charged when paying by credit card. 

    10. Will the bus routes and bus stops remain the same?

    Routes will be determined based on registration.

    11. May a student ride a bus other than the one he/she is assigned to?

    No. Student may only ride on their assigned bus. 

    12. Is there a pro rated fee?

    No, there is no pro-rated fee. The full bus fee applies regardless of use or time of registration. 

    13. What if I didn't register until after school begins?

    After the first day of school, if you have not yet purchased a bus pass, please email Transportation to confirm that there is space available on the bus assigned to your child. You will need to provide your address, and the name of the child's school. If space is available on the appropriate bus, you will then be notified by email and will be required to register online for a bus pass. 

    14. If my child is Open-Enrolled to a school other than my home zoned district, is he/she eligible for transportation?

    No. Under the school department's Open Enrollment Policy, parents are responsible for their child's transportation to and from the school to which they are open enrolled.

    15. I live within 2 miles of my child's school, but the day care center, at which he/she is picked up and dropped off at is within our school district, but more than 2 miles from the school. Do I have to pay a fee for transportation?

    Yes. The fee criteria that determines whether or not you pay a transportation fee is based on your residence to the district zoned school.

    16. If my child has a bus pass, can he/she be transported to a day care center which is not in his/her school district?

    No, a child care center must be located within your child's school district.

    17. My child has a special needs educational plan which specifies that he/she needs to be transported to school via a special education van, do I have to pay a transportation fee?

    No, the law does not permit school systems to charge a fee for transporting special needs students, via a van, when it is prescribed in a child's educational plan.

     

    NOTE: For your privacy protection, Westford Public Schools will not disclose health information to outside sources, including School Bus Transportation; it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to inform the Dee Bus Company of any serious medical condition, such as life-threatening allergy, asthma, diabetes or seizures. The Bus company can be reached at 978-392-8639.