Transportation Options for Students

Options for Students Regarding School Transportation

Our students actually have several ways that they can get to and from school. Of course, our parents always have the option to bring their children to and from school in any way that they deem fit, however, there are some families that may be eligible for other options when it comes to School Transportation.

The options that our families have to choose from when it comes to School Transportation are as follows:

• Parents or Guardians bring their children to and from school themselves

• Yellow School Bus (if the family is eligible)

• MetroCard (if the family is eligible)

• Private Bus (ADONAI Transportation)

• Specialized Transportation (Students with Disabilities ONLY)

If you would like to request additional information related to School Transportation or would like to see if you’re eligible for either a Yellow School Bus or a MetroCard please fill out our P.S. 211 Transportation/Bussing Requests Google Form or reach out to our our School’s Parent Coordinator or our School’s Pupil Accounting Secretary (please see below for their contact information):

Gisella Catarine

P.S. 211 Parent Coordinator

Phone: (929) 208-4860

Email: [email protected]

Lucy Ferreira

P.S. 211 Pupil Accounting Secretary

Phone: (929) 208-4860 Ext. 1054

Email: [email protected]

Yellow School Bus Transportation

One of the ways that a child can get to and from school is by being assigned to a Yellow School Bus. 

Unfortunately, families will have to meet certain criteria before being assigned to a Yellow School Bus which is primarily associated with the distance between the child’s primary residence and the school that the student is currently attending.

Additional criteria that a student must meet before being assigned to a Yellow School bus is as follows:

• The student is in grades K-6

• The student lives in the same district as the school (if attending a public school) or the same borough (if attending a non-public or charter school, or a citywide Gifted & Talented program)

• The student's school has yellow bus service available for all eligible students

• A bus stop within the student’s grade/distance eligibility exists or can be added to accommodate the student.

Note: Students using this type of transportation are assigned to a safe predetermined bus stop at an intersection. Students use the same stop both in the morning and the afternoon. 

This means that the Yellow School Bus WILL NOT be stopping directly in front of your residence and someone will have to be waiting for your child at the designated bus stop.

Eligible students who do not meet the criteria mentioned above will receive a MetroCard which they can use to take either a public city bus or a subway train.

MetroCard Transportation (Public City Bus or Subway Train)

The other way that a child can get to and from school is by being provided with a MetroCard which will allow them to take public transportation (in the form of a public city bus or a subway train).

Same as with the Yellow School Bus, a child must be eligible to be provided with a MetroCard. 

The eligibility requirements are also associated with the distance between the child’s primary residence and the school that the student is currently attending, however, it’s a bit easier to be eligible for a MetroCard than a Yellow School Bus (especially if the child is 3rd Grade, 4th Grade or 5th Grade).

Additional criteria that a student must meet before being provided a MetroCard is as follows:

• The student is in grades K-12

• Yellow bus service is not available or if a new stop cannot be added for the student; in this case, a MetroCard can be issued upon request

• MetroCards are distributed to all students in grades 7-12;

Note: MetroCards are distributed by a school's transportation coordinator.

Find Out if Your Child is Eligible for School Transportation

Transportation eligibility is based on a student’s grade level, walking distance between home and school, and existing accommodations based on a medical condition, housing status, or safety assessment.

The New York City Department of Education has several Distance Codes that determine whether or not your child will be eligible for a Yellow School Bus or a MetroCard. 

Please see below for a breakdown of these Distance Codes based on the distance between the school and the child’s primary residence (please be advised that the list below is applicable ONLY for students in Kindergarten and Grades 1-5):

• Students in Kindergarten, 1st Grade or 2nd Grade:

• Distance Code A: Less than 0.5 miles from the school - NOT ELIGIBLE
• Distance Code B: 0.5 miles or more, but less than 1 mile from the school - Eligible for a School Bus or a MetroCard
• Distance Code C: 1 mile or more, but less than 1.5 miles from the school - Eligible for a School Bus or a MetroCard
• Distance Code D: 1.5 miles or more from the school - Eligible for a School Bus or a MetroCard

• Students in 3rd Grade, 4th Grade or 5th Grade:

• Distance Code A: Less than 0.5 miles from the school - NOT ELIGIBLE
• Distance Code B: 0.5 miles or more, but less than 1 mile from the school - Eligible for a MetroCard ONLY
• Distance Code C: 1 mile or more, but less than 1.5 miles from the school - Eligible for a School Bus or a MetroCard
• Distance Code D: 1.5 miles or more from the school - Eligible for a School Bus or a MetroCard

Private Bussing

If your child is not eligible to be assigned to a Yellow School Bus or be provided with a MetroCard (and parents are not able to bring their child to and from school themselves) then our parents do have the option to pay for a private bus service.

Private bus companies are able to provide our parents with a private school bus that provides DOOR-TO-DOOR transportation for our students.

This means that the bus will stop directly in front of each residence and ensure that the child arrives home in a safe and sound manner.

If you are interested in signing up for a private bus service then please reach out to our our School’s Parent Coordinator or our School’s Pupil Accounting Secretary (please see below for their contact information):

Specialized Transportation Information

Certain Students with Disabilities (who currently have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)) may be eligible for a Yellow School Bus that provides Curb-to-School (also sometimes referred to as Door-to-Door) service.

This type of Yellow Bus Service picks up a student from the curb nearest their home and drops them off at their school.

Only students who have transportation recommended on their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Accommodation Plan (504), or have an approved medical exception from the Office of Pupil Transportation, are eligible for curb-to-school transportation.

Families of students who already receive curb-to-school or specialized transportation can request one-way transportation to an afterschool location instead of being dropped off at their home. 

The Request for an Alternate Drop-Off Location Form must be completed by the primary parent/guardian, except for students in foster care; in such cases, the foster care agency can submit it on behalf of the parent/guardian and foster parent. Schools cannot complete this form on behalf of a parent/guardian. The parent/guardian must initiate the request and sign the form.

If your child is a Student with a Disability that currently has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) then please reach out to our School’s Main Office at the number below and ask to speak with our IEP Teacher, Ms. Dayana Cantillo.

P.S. 211 Elm Tree Elementary Main Office

Phone: (929) 208-4860

If you need additional information related to School Transportation or would like to see if you’re eligible for either a Yellow School Bus or a MetroCard please fill out our P.S. 211 Transportation/Bussing Requests Google Form or reach out to our our School’s Parent Coordinator or our School’s Pupil Accounting Secretary (please see below for their contact information):

Gisella Catarine

P.S. 211 Parent Coordinator

Phone: (929) 208-4860

Email: [email protected]

Lucy Ferreira

P.S. 211 Pupil Accounting Secretary

Phone: (929) 208-4860 Ext. 1054