Special Education Transportation

The Special Education Division of Student Transportation (DOT) is a transportation entity that consistently provides safe and appropriate transportation services to eligible special education students. DOT is responsible for operational policies and procedures, school openings, project management, court reporting, training, training and professional development, compliance with IEP transportation requirements and parent transportation reimbursements. DOT oversees and supervises the day to day operations located at 4 terminals in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

News & Information

Extended School Year 2013 Routing & Scheduling

Extended School Year (ESY) planning is underway at DOT. Schools are urged to schedule IEP meetings with parents now to determine if their student will need transportation services during the summer months. IEP Teams must apply the eligibility framework using the ESY-Related Transportation Eligibility Worksheet (found in SEDS, LEAs must upload a worksheet for each student with an IEP within 5 business days of making the ESY eligibility decision.)

The deadline for the ESY certification is May 6, 2013.

The Extended School Year (ESY) Services Policy was issued on March 10, 2011. The policy establishes state-level standards and criteria for ESY services that are consistent with the IDEA requirement to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to all children with disabilities.  IEP Teams are responsible for analyzing child-level data using the state-level eligibility framework to make appropriate individualized ESY determinations for every child with an IEP by April of each year.

Extended School Year FAQs

DOT Enlists New Technology to Streamline Routing and Scheduling

The Division of Student Transportation (OSSE-DOT) is rolling out GPS units on its buses to allow drivers to view route information, including the name and address of a student assigned to a particular route. Drivers at OSSE-DOT’s 5th Street terminal were the first group of drivers trained to use the new technology. All drivers will be trained by the end of the current school year. The M-Nav unit by Navman Wireless enables drivers to key in a route number, which loads the device with a list of students scheduled for the route. After arriving at a student’s house, drivers can record if a student boarded the bus or not. The device will only be used when the bus is not in motion to ensure proper focus on the road. 

DOT Exits Federal Court Supervision

In December 2012, Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced the dismissal of Petties v. District of Columbia, a class action lawsuit requiring federal court supervision of the District’s special education transportation system and provider payments.  Judge Paul Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, formally ended 17 years of federal oversight for  transportation services  and nonpublic and related service provider payments at a public hearing.

The case’s dismissal is a significant achievement for OSSE-DOT. As the department continues to provide high quality service to students and families in the District, performance reporting is an important aspect of progress.  Reviewing information that is reliable and verifiable on a routine basis provides transparency and visibility, which is the essence of good government.

On-time performance reports for DOT are now posted monthly. Visit our Performance Reporting page for details.

View more of the Press Release.

Office of the State Superintendent of Education Division of Student Transportation

Office Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm 

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1709 3rd Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 576-6228

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