Transportation

Special Education/Special Services

 If you have a child with special needs requiring transportation different from the regular bus services, please work with your child's special education case manager. You may also contact special services at 952-988-4042.

Open Enrolled Students

Parents/guardians of open-enrolled students are responsible for transporting their students to school. When space is available, open-enrolled students may apply to use the closest currently existing bus stop that is located in their school's attendance boundary. Click the blue button below to complete an application. Applications will be taken in the order they are submitted. Parents are responsible for making sure the student is transported to and from the stop safely. If the bus reaches space capacity, parents/guardians of open-enrolled or in-district transfer students will need to transport their students to school.

Open Enroll/In-District Transfer Bus Application

Learn more about open enrolling into Hopkins Public Schools.

Equity Options Students

 Hopkins Public Schools offers transportation for approved students in eligible neighborhoods in Minneapolis. To find out if you are eligible for this transportation program, please visit the Equity Options web page to review the eligibility guidelines.

In-District Transfer Students: Parents/guardians of in-district transfer students are responsible for transporting their students to school. When space is available, in-district transfer students may apply to use the closest currently existing bus stop that is located in their school's attendance boundary. Click the blue button below to complete an application. Applications will be taken in the order they are submitted. Parents are responsible for making sure the student is transported to and from the stop safely. If the bus reaches space capacity parents/guardians of open-enrolled or in-district transfer students will need to transport their students to school.

Open Enroll/In-District Transfer Bus Application

Learn more about requesting an in-district transfer.

For the Blended Learning option in-person learning days, transportation is available for Hopkins Public Schools residents and familes who are eligible and approved for the Equity Options transportation program.​ 

Open-enrolled/out-of-district families (those not eligible for Equity Options) are responsible for providing transportation for their student on in-person learning days. ​​ There are times when Open-enrolled/out-of-district families are eligible to take the bus from an existing bus stop. Please reach out to VirtualEDU staff for more information.

VIrtualEDU online and blended school site is located in the Hopkins East Building, 5300 Glenwood Ave, Golden Valley, MN, near Hwy. 100 and Glenwood Avenue. Learn more about VirtualEDU online and blended learning school.

Special transportation arrangements may be considered for daycare students. Please make arrangements with the Transportation Office (SchoolBus@HopkinsSchools.org).

Standard Bus Stops will be established where:

• School bus eight-way lights can be seen by motorists at the front and rear of the bus, at least 100 feet in a speed zone of 35 m.p.h. or less, and at least 300 feet in a speed zone of greater than 35 m.p.h.
• Bus drivers do not need to negotiate a backup turn around
• Routes are clearly visible and recognizable to bus drivers and substitute bus drivers who might not be familiar with the bus route
• For bus stops located on county roads, the school bus eight-way lights will be activated 300 feet prior to the scheduled stop location

The school district expects our drivers to arrive at the scheduled bus stop at the times specified on the driver's official route copy, within reason. Routes may run a few minutes early or late due to unexpected traffic patterns and other uncontrollable circumstances. We ask that families have their child out at the scheduled bus stop no later than 5 minutes before the scheduled stop time and that they wait at least 5 minutes after the scheduled stop time to insure their child is at the bus stop when the bus arrives.

For the safety and comfort of themselves and everyone on the school bus, students are responsible for following bus safety and behavior guidelines plus instructions from the bus driver. We ask that you discuss with your child the following basic guidelines for safe bus behavior. Please remember — bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. This privilege will be withdrawn for inappropriate behavior.

During the first week of school, students will receive training in bus safety and appropriate conduct. The following are the rules of safe behavior:

1. Students shall remain a safe distance back from the roadway while awaiting the arrival of the bus. They should refrain from destructive or dangerous behavior at the stop.
2. Students shall enter the bus in an orderly manner and go directly to a seat and remain seated until the destination is reached. The bus driver is authorized to assign seats if necessary.
3. Students shall keep their hands, arms, and heads inside the bus.

4. Students shall not throw objects in, around, or out of the bus.

5. All articles such as athletic equipment, books, musical instruments, etc., must be out of the aisles. If the items are too large to be kept out of the aisle, the article is too large to be transported on the school bus. For safety purposes, articles that create a hazard will not be transported.

6. The emergency door must be used for emergencies only. Students shall not touch the safety equipment.

7. The school bus shall be tobacco- and drug-free.

8. No weapons or look-alike weapons will be allowed on the bus in accordance with the school district's weapons policy.

9. Students shall follow all directions given by the bus driver.

10. Students are to be courteous to other students, other adults, and the bus driver, and refrain from profane language.

11. There shall be no eating or drinking on the bus except on field trips or co-curricular trips when prearranged and supervised by a teacher or coach.

12. There shall be no animals of any kind on the bus.

13. Students who must cross the street at a bus stop shall not do so until they receive a signal from the bus driver. If crossing a street is necessary, it shall always be done 10 feet in front of the bus. This means that the student should be able to see the face of the bus driver. The driver shall hold the bus with warning lights flashing and the stop arm extended until the crossing is completed.

14. Students shall refrain from dangerous behavior including pushing and shoving in school bus loading and unloading zones. Students shall enter and leave the bus in an orderly manner.

15. Students will be held responsible for any damage to the bus, and they will be expected to make restitution.

16. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to review with their student on a timely basis the rules for bus ridership. It is expected that the parent or guardian will support the school in enforcement of this policy.

• Stay out of the school bus Danger Zones.
• Wait for the driver's signal before crossing the street, and always cross 10 feet in front of the bus —you should see the bus driver's face. 
• Never stop beside or reach under the bus — if you drop something, tell the driver, or wait until the bus leaves before picking it up.
• Please dress your child in warm and protective clothing during the winter months.