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Version: 3.3

SMS-PR-009: School transport assistance programs for students with disabilities

The objective of this procedure is to outline the assistance available to those students whose disability necessitates transport to and from school by a means that takes account of their disability.

Relevant legislation and policy

Legislation and/or regulations

Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld) s. 421 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/EducGenPrA06.pdf
Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Part 2 Division 2 Section 22 http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2004A04426

Substantive policy

Commonwealth Disability Standards for Education 2005 http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/Programs/Documents/Disability_Standards_for_Education_2005_pdf.pdf
Education Adjustment Program http://education.qld.gov.au/students/disabilities/adjustment/

Related procedures

SMS-PR-027: Enrolment in State Primary, Secondary and Special Schools /strategic/eppr/students/smspr027/

Statement of intent

The Department of Education and Training (DET) provides school transport assistance for students with disabilities where it is necessitated by the nature of the student's disability and by the circumstances of the family. Families have primary responsibility for the transport of their children to school. The support that may be provided to families by DET includes:

Category 1 transport assistance for public transport (bus, rail or ferry), conveyance allowance for parent/carer who drive their children to school
Category 2 transport assistance for contract minibus and taxi.

This procedure applies to travel between home and school at the start and end of the school day, for students with disabilities in accordance with the following principles:

equity of access to education for students with disabilities
strengthening the capacity of individuals, families and communities
responsible use of available resources.

The target group for this program is students with a disability aged from three years attending the nearest school or the nearest school with a specialised program in the area of the student's disability/disabilities.

They are students:

who are school aged with a verified diagnosis of disability according to Education Queensland (EQ) criteria
whose diagnosis of disability has not yet been verified by EQ but who are anticipated to meet criteria
who do not have a verified diagnosis according to EQ criteria but whose disability necessitates transport assistance
who are prior to Prep children with a known or suspected disability attending an approved Early Childhood Development program.

Students attending The Glenleighden School, Tennyson Special School, Autism Queensland Schools or an approved hospital school may also be eligible for assistance.

If the student meets eligibility criteria for a transport assessment, the school transport assessor in consultation with the parent/carer, completes the assessment. This process identifies the student's ability to travel safely between home and school and the parent/carer's capacity to get their child to school. The assessment determines if the student is eligible for assistance and the type of assistance (Category 1 or Category 2) that may be recommended by the school transport assessor. The parent/carer makes formal application (T2 form 130k) for assistance when Category 2 (contract taxi or minibus) is being considered.

Other eligibility conditions (one school only, one home address and attendance at least three days a week) apply and these are discussed with parent/carer during the assessment process. For students who are eligible for contract transport, there are further conditions (cost, distance and travel time limits). Some cases outside these limits may warrant the consideration of exceptional circumstances.

If families have grounds to contest the decision of the Principal Advisor Education Services (PAES), or delegate they may submit an appeal to the regional Assistant Regional Director of DET.

Responsibilities

Parent/carer:

has primary responsibility for transporting their child to school
participates in their child's school transport assessment and review processes and signs the T1 Assessment and authority to arrange transport assistance 504k (T1) and R1 review of assessment of eligibility 183k (R1) forms
completes and signs the T2 Parent application for consideration of transport assistance for student for contract transport assistance 130k (T2) form
co-operates with the school transport providers to ensure their child's safe travel to school
supports travel training programs where applicable
makes contact with the Principal Education Officer, Student Services to discuss any issues about the transport type approved by the Principal Advisor Education Services or delegate
may appeal against the decision about transport assistance for their child using A3 Appeal process - Parent/Carer submission (A3 form).

School Transport Assessor:

liaises with parent/carer about school transport assistance matters
ensures the student is in the target group and attending the nearest school or the nearest school with a specialised program in the area of the student's disability/disabilities
assesses the student's eligibility for school assistance transport in accordance with the procedure, using�the T1 form 504k.
uses T3 Students with disabilities distance check 157k (t3) form to obtain details on the distance between home and school if necessary
ensures that the parent /carer completes the T2 form 130k for contract transport assistance form if Category 2 transport assistance is being considered
co-signs the T2 form for contract transport assistance form when contract transport assistance is to be recommended for a student whose capacity for independent travel is minimal because of their severe disability and the student is unlikely to develop skills for independent travel
confirms all eligibility criteria and conditions
liaises with Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) on matters of cost and availability of services
provides a rationale (page 5 of T1) where exceptional circumstances apply
identifies the need for travel training where appropriate and liaises with the classroom teacher
recommends the student's category of school transport assistance including the need for an escort if this is required
assesses and reviews school transport assistance for students at the appropriate times
liaises with parent/carer to review a students eligibility for transport assistance by completing and signing the R1 form 183k and T1 form 504k (if change is required) once every 12 months or when a change to student or family circumstances occur or otherwise specified in original application
ensures student transport data is entered on Adjustment Information Management System (AIMS) prior to faxing the following forms:
- T1 form 504k (fax to Regional Office)
- R1 form 183k (fax to Regional Office)
- T5 Transport cancellation notification 159k (fax to DTMR).

Principal:

ensures that students are assessed and reviewed for school transport assistance in accordance with this procedure
ensures that the school transport assessor qualifies to be employed as a registered teacher by DET in Queensland and has received training in the application of� the procedure SMS-PR-009: School transport assistance program for students with disabilities
ensures that there is appropriate supervision for students on arrival and departure from school
authorises school transport assistance for students with disabilities in temporary residential accommodation, using T4 Temporary residential accommodation authority to arrange transport 219k form.
ensures that the T5 Transport cancellation notification 159k form is completed for a permanent cancellation, temporary cancellation which exceeds 5 days, Temporary Residential Accommodation cancellation and completion of escort support
submits Claim for reimbursement of Teacher Aide wages for the escort of student with disabilities and copy of the relevant Salary/Wage Recovery Debit Notes when the PAES or delegate approves the use of a teacher aide who is paid to accompany a student where this is necessary for the purposes of managing the student's safe travel
ensures student transport data is entered on AIMS.

Principal Education Officer, Student Services (PEO:SS):

provides training, advice and support to the school transport assessor
ensures that there are sufficient (teacher qualified) trained school transport assessors available
ensures that transport assessments and reviews for students have been carried out in accordance with this procedure
liaises with�DTMR on matters of cost and availability of transport services
works with schools,�DTMR and other agencies to develop local innovative responses to transport issues
responds to queries from parents/carers regarding this procedure
liaises with parent/carer if they wish to appeal the decision of the PAES, using the Parent/Carer submission appeal process supported by the flow chart for appeals 109k rationale for school assistance decision by PAES 134k and guidelines for submitting an appeal 131k
ensures student transport data is entered on AIMS.

Principal Advisor, Education Services (PAES) or delegate:

considers recommendation of the school transport assessor for the provision of transport assistance
manages processes to deal with cases of unusual or exceptional circumstances
if approving transport assistance signs the T1 form 504k and faxes pages 1 and 3 or 4 to DTMR
advises parent/carer on the outcome of an application for school transport assistance by letter
manages the regional budget for school transport assistance for students with disabilities.

Assistant Regional Director:

implements a local process of appeals�
Seeks advice from the Manager, School Transport in individual cases where an appeal has been lodged
makes decisions on appeals
advises parents of the outcome of appeals by letter (A5).

Manager, School Transport:

provides advice to the PEO:SS and the PAES
provides advice to the Assistant Regional Director about cases where an appeal has been lodged
reviews the policy to ensure it continues to meet departmental and government objectives
decides on applications for transport assistance for students attending The Glenleighden School, an Autism Queensland School or Tennyson Special School
ensures claims for reimbursement of teacher aide wages are made to schools.

Forms

Guidelines

Not Applicable

Contacts

For further information contact your local Principal Education Officer (Student Services)

For information about this procedure please contact:

Principal Project Officer
School Transport Unit

Phone:: (07) 3237 0399
Fax:: (07) 3237 1701

Document information

Approval record: 10/265316 Doc. Ref. 10/212841
Date of implementation: 2010-12-17
Date of publication: 2010-12-17
Date to be reviewed: 2012-10-08
This procedure replaces:

SMS-PR-009: School Transport Assistance Program for Students with Disabilities - Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2

Uncontrolled copy. Please refer to Education Policy and Procedure Register at http://iwww.qed.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/ for latest version.

Uncontrolled copy. Please refer to Education Policy and Procedure Register at http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/ for latest version.

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