If you would like to request a change in bus service, you must complete a form in your PowerSchool account and have it approved. No changes will occur until approval has been communicated to you. Approval will be based on availability and distance from school. If the change is approved, ACS will contact parents to make necessary arrangements.

• All school rules apply to bus riding.

• Students are to follow directions and instructions of the bus driver.

• Students are to keep their head and limbs in the bus at all times.

• Students must have seat belts fastened and remain in their seats.

• High school students sit in the back of the bus. Elementary students sit at the front of the bus.

• Food and drinks, other than water, may NOT be brought onto the bus.

• Someone must be home to receive the student when they are dropped off by the bus. If no one is home, the bus will bring the student back to school and parents must pick them up from school.

These rules, along with the bus hotline number are posted on each bus.

Should students not abide by these rules, the relevant elementary, middle, or high school division will apply the following  consequences:

Incident #1 Meeting with divisional administration and parent notification.

Incident #2 Indefinite Bus Suspension

Incident #3 Loss of bus riding privileges for the remainder of the year. Bus fees will NOT be reimbursed.

This is a general guide and depending on the severity of the incident, these may be adjusted at the discretion of the divisional principal. 

If parents become aware of a problem on the bus, they should contact the relevant division Principal as soon as the problem becomes evident so that the problem can be addressed appropriately.

• All drivers have completed the Smith driving training program generously sponsored by the US Embassy. More information can be found at http://www.smith-system.com. 

• Each bus has a GPS tracking system.

• All buses are monitored for speed.

• All buses have cameras that have live and recorded capabilities. From ACS behavior and activities on the bus can be observed. If need be the cameras also record for playback purposes.

• All drivers are trained in first aid/CPR.

• All drivers have phones to contact the security and/or bus supervisor.

• Bus pick-up and drop-off times are on a rotation basis. A letter is sent home once the bus routes have been finalized with the times, bus driver's name, and phone number. This usually happens after the second week of school.

• Buses are unmarked and look like local buses.

• All buses have curtains.

• All buses are equipped with first aid kits and emergency equipment, and they are inspected monthly.

• There are regular “tabletop” exercises with the bus drivers to practice accident scenarios.

• During professional development days at school, simulation events involving buses are planned, implemented, and debriefed.

• Buses are randomly followed by security personnel.

• Buses enter and exit ACS through different gates on a random schedule.
  
  

Each bus driver has a folder with the following information in it:

• List of students riding their bus with their pictures. This includes the parent contact information they provided to the school.

• Protocols to follow in the event of an accident.

• Bus violation sheets to identify any student who behaves poorly on the bus.

• A list of bus-riding students that the bus driver checks when the student gets on and off the bus.

Students riding the activities buses must write their names on a list when boarding their buses.

Following are departure times for the After School Activities Buses:

• 3:00 pm: For all students who have signed up for bus use. Buses can not be used for "play dates".

• 4:00 pm: For those who are staying after school for an activity and have paid for bus services.

• 4:30 pm: for Middle School/High School Activities

There are no buses provided for those staying after school until 6:00 pm.