An update on transportation applications for elementary families who will have students in kindergarten through grade 5 in the upcoming school year.
All elementary students who were assigned to a bus at the end of last school year will automatically be assigned to a bus for the start of the 2026-27 school year, which begins Friday, Sept. 4. These assignments for returning elementary bus students will be made whether or not your family submitted a new application by the Aug. 3 deadline. If your K-5 student was assigned to a bus at the end of last school year, you do not need to complete a new application moving forward if you have not done so already.
We appreciate all of the families that did submit a new application by Aug. 3. In many cases, that helped our Transportation Department update important information that will help with routing for the new school year, especially as we expand our elementary service to accommodate students who live one mile or more from school.
- If your elementary student was not assigned to a yellow bus at the end of last school year, your family lives one mile or more from your school and you have not yet submitted an application for next school year, please submit an application as soon as possible if you would like a bus assignment for your student.
- We will do our best to assign new students to buses by the first day of school, but at this point cannot guarantee an assignment for new elementary riders before Wednesday, Sept. 16.
- All K-12 students with an Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan that require specialized transportation will have bus assignments for the first day of school regardless of their distance from school.
- Our eligibility limit for grades 6-12 students who ride CDTA buses remains unchanged at 1.5 miles.
The expanded eligibility threshold for elementary students (down to one mile from 1.5 miles) applies to all K-5 students attending district, charter, private and parochial schools in Albany. The expansion, which voters overwhelmingly approved in last May's budget vote, is designed to improve student safety and daily attendance.
If you have any questions regarding the application process, deadlines or transportation eligibility requirements, please give our Transportation Department a call at (518) 475-6170.