Although not required by law to do so, Pinellas County Schools provides bus transportation for magnet program students.  As stated on page 15 of the Procedures for District Application Programs, in order to keep the length of the bus ride as short as practicable, students are provided arterial routing to the school.  Arterial routing restricts bus operation to main roads and limits the number of stops.  Bus stops will be farther from the student’s home than a zoned school stop. All arterial stops align with safety guidelines set by law and School Board Policy 8600 - Transportation.

There are different programs available depending on your child’s middle school. Please contact the provider directly to register your student.

Middle School Before and After Care Providers

Transportation information for the 2023-2024 school year will be available in FOCUS beginning July 24^th. Please log into your parent account to see your student’s bus stop information at FOCUS.pcsb.org.

If your parent account has not been set up, or if you have not logged in for 12 or more months, you will need to contact your student’s school and speak to the Data Management Technician (DMT). If you need to reset your password, visit https://www.pcsb.org/passwords. If you are unable to change your password online or if you do not know your username or password, we prefer for you to visit your child’s school to have your identity confirmed and password changed. Please bring your identification with you to the school.

If your parent account is not linked in FOCUS, you will not be able to see your student(s) information. Please contact your student’s school and ask for the Data Management Technician (DMT) to link your account to your student(s).  

Each year, parents are asked to update their student’s Back-to-School Forms packet to ensure that information such as contact information is up-to-date and accurate.

1. Log into the parent FOCUS portal (FOCUS.pcsb.org) and locate your student(s) on the left-hand column.

2. You will need to complete the following steps for each of your students in order to see their individual bus stop information. Click on the drop-down arrow to populate information related to your student. 

3. Select Child Info to load information about your individual student.

4. Scroll down until you see the Transportation tab on the left-side menu and click on it.

5. Once you’ve accessed the Transportation page you will be able to view your student’s Route Info.

Student’s Bus Stop Information in FOCUS - Downloadable PDF file

It is the parent’s responsibility to update their address on the parent portal and provide documentation of the new address to the school. Upon verification of the address, the school will update the student’s new address in PCS Portal. Once the update is completed, the school will submit a request for a bus assignment to the Transportation Department if busing need is requested by parent. The Transportation Department will assign a bus stop, in alignment with School Board policy and State guidelines.

The Transportation Department will notify the school of any route or time changes. The school will then communicate any schedule changes to the parents and students. Information can also be found in the FOCUS parent portal.

Yes, postcards will be mailed on July 26th. The postcard will provide:

• Pick up and drop off location
• Route Number
• Pick up and drop off times
• AM & PM corner designation (if applicable)
• QR code with a link to the PCS Transportation website

Parents will be receiving a text message and email with their student’s stop information. Parents can also check Focus beginning July 24^th for information related to the 2023-2024 school year by visiting FOCUS.pcsb.org.

In accordance with School Board Policy 8600, parents are responsible for the safe transportation of the student to and from the school bus stop. Parents are also responsible for the behavior of their child while at the school bus stop.

No, each elementary school has an on-site daycare program. Therefore, we do not transport to other daycare locations. 

No, School Board policy states that students must use the same stop a.m. and p.m. based on their legal address on file.

No, per School Board policy, a student is assigned a stop based on their legal address. Students will not be permitted to board at any other location.

No, due to privacy concerns of the student who is assigned to that stop, the ESE stop is for the assigned student only.

Per School Board policy, district-wide magnet, fundamental, career academy and students in other similar programs will be routed on an arterial basis (i.e., buses are restricted to operating on main roads only with a limited number of bus stops). 

Consolidating the number of arterial (hub) stops for middle school and high school District Application Programs will allow buses to serve more students and create greater efficiencies.

We do not relocate arterial stops to accommodate a closer stop request. Per School Board Policy 2250 and the Procedures for District Application Programs, students enrolled in fundamental and magnet programs outside of their zoned school will be routed using arterial (hub) stops. In order to keep the length of the bus ride as short as practicable, students are provided arterial routing to the school. Arterial routing restricts bus operation to main roads and limits the number of stops. In some cases, the bus stop may be farther from the student’s home than a zoned school stop.

No. In accordance with School Board policy, a student is assigned a stop based on their legal address and program. Students will not be permitted to board at any other location.

In accordance with School Board Policy 8600, parents are responsible for the safe transportation of their students to and from the assigned bus stop.

Yes. This is because some communities have limited access from the main roads. School Board policy and State Statutes restrict school buses from:

• Operating on private roadways
• Gated communities
• Apartment complexes

• Safety team members and other transportation staff monitor stop locations throughout the year ensuring safety standards are met.
• Route coordinators and Safety Team members will continue to review and cross-check students and stop information.
• Bus drivers will conduct dry runs for route/stop familiarization and to identify and report any possible safety concerns.

Per Florida Statute 947.1405(7)(a)2 “Beginning October 1, 2004, a district school board may not establish or relocate a public school bus stop within 1,000 feet of the residence of a releasee who is subject to this subparagraph.”

Sexual predator designation is defined in State Statute 775.21(4) & 775.21(5) of The Florida Sexual Predators Act.

Sex Offender FAQ’s
Sex offender website (FDLE)

Parents may request a crossing guard using the form located on the Safety-First web page. Click on the link Travel to School Safety Concerns and submit the form.