Eligibility
Specialized transportation (small yellow school bus) is available to students who:
- Attend their designated school for their specialized program, system class, or unique setting, and
- Are assigned to specialized transportation as their mode; or
- Students with a transportation exception who have been assigned to specialized transportation
Specialized transportation stop locations are either:
- As close to the home address as possible (for Curb-to-Curb service)
- Within 1 km (driving distance) of the home (for Corner Stop service)
Many students from Grade 7 to 12 who are in specialized programs are designated to Calgary Transit. Calgary Transit trips are designed to be around one hour (or less) and not to include more than one transfer.
For more information about how bus routes and stops are managed, visit our Bus Routes & Stops page.
Registration
Families register for specialized transportation using MyCBE, every school year. Students who are registered during the school year are added to the closest existing stop with space, within the distance guideline. Processing times could be up to six weeks.
If you are unable to access MyCBE, you can complete and return this form: Specialized Transportation Registration for Students With Complex Learning Needs | 2025-2026
Student Absence Notification
When families know their child will not use specialized transportation for any period of time, they must notify the service provider as soon as possible. After a school bus stop has not been used for three weeks, it will be removed from the route.
Alternate Address
An alternate address may be accommodated on specialized transportation routes when the run has the time. For more information on Alternate Addresses, please review the School Bus Services page.
Fees
Students assigned to specialized transportation (small yellow school bus) do not pay a fee.
Payment in Lieu of Transportation
Working with the Manager of Transportation, the CBE and families can enter into an agreement for payment in lieu of specialized transportation. This means that families receive a daily rate based on distance travelled, to and from school. If families are interested, they can contact transportation@cbe.ab.ca.
Sibling Conditional Ridership
Families can apply for a sibling to ride the bus, even if that sibling doesn’t qualify for specialized transportation. This is called sibling conditional ridership.
To be eligible, the sibling must have a sibling who uses specialized transportation and attends the same school as the sibling.
Sibling Conditional Ridership:
- It is not guaranteed
- Families must be apply for it every year using MyCBE
- Service cannot be used until approved by Transportation Services
- There is an annual fee that is not adjusted based on actual usage.
- Spots are offered on a first-come, first-served basis
- Students must use an existing stop — new stops won’t be added
- If routes change or the bus fills up with eligible students, sibling riders may be removed.
Parents must plan for other transportation in case approval isn't received before school starts, or if the sibling loses their spot later in the year.
Grade | Fee |
1-9 | $500 |
Kindergarten | $250 (1-way) |
Transportation Safety
Preparing for Riding the Bus
The time listed for your child’s bus stop is the departure time — not the arrival time. The bus will leave at that exact time and will not wait or return.
To avoid missing the bus, families should have students ready at the stop at least 5 minutes early.
Please make sure your child:
- has been to the washroom;
- is wearing appropriate outdoor clothing (and harness if required); and
- is waiting at the stop location outside
Also, please keep sidewalks clear so that the student can move safely to and from the bus.
Specialized Transportation Safety
Please review the safety information that applies to all students on our Bus Safety, Rules & First-Time Riders page.
Some additional safety information related specifically to specialized transportation is outlined below.
Seatbelts, Harnesses and Safety Equipment
- Specialized transportation buses may have seatbelts given a capacity of 36 passengers or fewer. When school buses are equipped with seat belts, drivers are required to ensure passengers under the age of 16 years old are secured with the seatbelts.
- Some students may need to wear a harness or vest to help keep them safe on the bus. This decision is made together with families, the school, and CBE specialists. Harnesses are safety tools, just like seatbelts or car seats.
- If a parent or guardian does not agree to using a harness or other restraint, they will need to arrange their own transportation.
- Parents and school staff are responsible for putting the harness or vest on the student before they board the bus. Once the student is seated, the driver or attendant will secure it. In some cases, depending on the child’s needs, parents or school staff may also help with fastening. If so, the bus company will provide training to the school.
- Harnesses must be worn and fitted properly to work as intended. While they may feel snug, drivers are trained to ensure they are safe and that students cannot slip out of them.
Car Seat / Integrated Seat
Students who weigh under 40 pounds (18 kg), must use a car seat or built-in (integrated) bus seat. These seats stay on the bus, and schools don’t need to send permission forms.
To help with buckling, please don’t dress your child in bulky winter coats.
Additional Supports
Attendants or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) may be added to a route where there is a need for medical support, typically requested for students in:
Requests will be referred to LifeCare for an assessment.
A Transportation Safety Plan can also be used to communicate important safety, medical, and behavioural information proactively.
Recordings
For the safety of all, some vehicles record video daily. Vehicles are clearly marked as having a recording device.
Parents and students are prohibited from taping or recording for reasons of privacy.
CBE Specialized Transportation Providers
You can learn more on our Transportation Providers, Apps & Service Delays page.
Contact
Hours
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The office will be closed on all holidays and system-wide non-instructional days.
Last modified: 2026-08-10 19:32:00.486982 +0000 UTC