DOST Vision Statement
Safe, efficient transportation for
Rio Rancho Public Schools students in a growing
community based on Trust, Caring, Respect and Knowledge
*Parents: Bus Passes Are No Longer Required. Click on the stop sign to find your student's bus information. The "username" will be your student's ID number and the "password" will be your student's date of birth in this format: 2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year, no dashes. For example if your student's date of birth is July 8, 2008, you would enter 07082008. Please be advised bus information will be updated once we have an approved plan from the board.
School Bus Rules/Discipline Policy
Students within their school's walk boundary are not eligible for bus services. Here is specific boundary information:
- Elementary School students: students who live 1 mile or less from school
- Middle School students: students who live 1.5 miles or less from school
- High School students: students who live 2 miles or less from school
- Click here for complete school bus rules/discipline
General Rules
- Students will be picked up and dropped off only at their assigned stops
- The school bus will leave the school bus loading zone seven minutes after the bell rings in the afternoon
- Middle and High School students are required to show their school identification cards upon request
- The school bus driver will assign seats to students
- DOST Handbook
Special Services
- Special needs transportation will be provided according to terms identified in a students Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
- Click here for complete special services information
Who is eligible to ride
- Who is eligible to ride the bus?
- A RRPS student will be provided transportation to his/her assigned school under the following criteria:
- Grades K—5, Elementary: A student whose registered address is over one mile from his/her assigned school will be eligible for school bus transportation
- Grades 6—8, Middle School: A student whose registered address is over one-and-one-half miles from his/her assigned school will be eligible for school bus transportation
- Grades 9—12, High School: A student whose registered address is over two miles from his/her assigned school will be eligible for school bus transportation
- Modified Transportation: 504 Committees and/or IEP Committees determine the need for modified transportation
Safety Concerns
- For immediate concerns that impact student safety please call RRPS Security at (505)896-0667
- For other concerns, contact DOST at (505)338-0078 or at DOST@rrps.net
FAQ's
- What should I do if my students bus is late?
- Is my student eligible for transportation?
- I called DOST and they were not helpful. What should I do?
- Every individual contacting DOST including school leaders, parents, and community members should be greeted with a positive tone and provided the name of the representative they are speaking with. Should the caller be treated with anything less than a respectful and service oriented interaction, please contact one of our transportation directors at DOST@rrps.net
- Can I change to a different bus route/bus stop?
- Please click here for complete FAQ's
Activities
- The transportation of students to school-sponsored activity trips should be in school bus vehicles whenever possible. Only Rio Rancho Public Schools students, sponsors, and chaperones will be transported on school buses for school-sponsored activity trips. A school bus must be used any time the school-sponsored activity involves more than eighteen (18) passengers or would require more than two school-owned vehicles to transport passengers to the same destination.
- In order to promote the safe transportation of students, the use of school-owned vehicles should be on a limited basis. If a school-owned vehicle is used, the following criteria must be met:
- The rated capacity of the vehicle is nine or fewer.
- The sponsored activity involves eighteen or less passengers.
- The sponsored activity will require only two school-owned vehicles to transport students to the same destination.
- A signed release from the parents/guardians giving permission for the students to participate in the activity and to ride in a school-owned vehicle must be obtained by the sponsor
- Required documentation must be submitted to the school site administration and to the Department of Student Transportation (DOST) prior to the activity.
Inclement Weather
- The decision to implement an abbreviated day schedule will be made by the Superintendent of RRPS. Information is gathered through the coordinated efforts of many people such as the DOST Executive Director and state, county, and city weather and street departments. Road conditions and the ability of school buses to transport students safely to and from school are the basis of the information.
- The decision to institute an abbreviated schedule will be made and announced through the news media between 5:45 – 6:00 am. In the event that weather conditions worsen and it is necessary to close schools for the entire day, the decision and announcement will be made no later than 9:00 am.
- The abbreviated day schedule is a shortened school day that begins two (2) hours later than the regular bell schedule but ends at the regular time. Pick up times at school bus stops will be two hours later than regularly scheduled.
- Click here for more info