Please note that no one aside from students assigned to the school bus and the driver may enter or be on a bus unless City Schools' Director of Transportation gives approval. This include parents and other family members.

About our buses and drivers

City Schools buses and contract buses are inspected thoroughly three times a year in accordance with guidelines established by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. School bus drivers must satisfactorily complete an extensive and comprehensive training program to become certified and eligible to drive, and they must complete annual in-service training. In addition, drivers are required to meet health and driving-record standards. Drivers and bus aides are subject to a background check and a drug and alcohol screening.

School bus rules and guidelines

Behavior on school and MTA buses is governed by City Schools' Code of Conduct. In addition, students who travel on MTA must abide by MTA rules of conduct.

Before loading

Be careful walking to the bus stop.
Be ready to board the bus at least 10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
Stay out of the street while waiting to board the school bus.
Conduct yourself in a safe and orderly manner while waiting at the bus stop.
Do not approach the bus until it comes to a complete stop.
Carefully enter the bus and move quickly to your seat.

On the bus

The driver is in complete charge of the bus and students must respect his or her authority.
While the bus is in motion, students are to sit facing forward in the seats that have been assigned by the driver or school administrator.
Students may converse in a normal manner. Name-calling or loud, profane, or obscene language is not permitted.
Students must not extend any part of their bodies through the school bus windows.
Students may not eat, drink, smoke, or play radios, tape recorders, CD players, etc., while on board school buses.
Books, coats, school equipment, and musical instruments may be transported on the bus provided they can be secured in the seat and not placed in the aisles. For other objects, the driver may request written approval from City Schools' Transportation department.
Students must cooperate in keeping the bus clean and must not damage it. Any malicious or willful damage to a school bus will result in immediate withdrawal of transportation services for the student or students involved. In addition, the cost of repairing the damage must be satisfactorily settled.
Students are prohibited from throwing items out of the bus windows.
Pushing, shoving, and fighting are prohibited.
Absolute silence is necessary when approaching a railroad crossing.
In case of an emergency, students are to remain in the bus unless otherwise instructed by the driver.

Leaving the bus

Students should remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.
Students should move a safe distance away from the bus as they unload, and never go under the bus for an object.
Students who must cross the street due to the location of their residence must move at least 10 feet in front of the bus before attempting to cross. Before crossing, students must look in both directions to be sure that no traffic is approaching.