N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:27-2.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 6A:27-2.1 - General provisions

(a) District boards of education shall provide nonpublic school transportation or aid in lieu of transportation in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1et seq.

(b) District boards of education shall advertise and receive bids for nonpublic school transportation before a determination is made to provide transportation or aid in lieu of transportation.

1. The resident district board of education is not required to bid for nonpublic school services when transportation is provided utilizing a district-owned vehicle, public transportation, a renewal of an existing contract qualifying for renewal under N.J.S.A. 18A:39-3, or an agreement with another district board of education.

2. Resident district boards of education that paid aid in lieu of transportation in the prior year, or have determined they cannot provide transportation for the ensuing school year, shall attempt to utilize one of the coordinated transportation services agencies (CTSAs) before paying aid in lieu of transportation.

3. A resident district board of education that bids or coordinates nonpublic school transportation services with another district board of education shall consider the following criteria prior to determining the method of providing transportation services. The resident district board of education may also use additional criteria.

i. There are an adequate number of resident students attending the nonpublic school(s) to support a bus route.

ii. The location of the nonpublic school is within the school district or regional school district.

iii. Tiered routes can be designed to include public and nonpublic schools. A tiered route shall mean the utilization of a single vehicle to service more than one route.

iv. Routes can be designed to transport public and nonpublic school students on the same bus.

v. Routes can be designed to service multiple nonpublic school destinations.

vi. The route can be designed according to district board of education policy regarding length of time.

4. The resident district board of education is not required to bid for nonpublic school services when another district board of education has bid on the resident board's behalf.

(c) The Department will publish on its website the following Commissioner-prescribed forms: a Nonpublic School Transportation Application, Nonpublic School Transportation Payment Voucher, and Nonpublic School Transportation Certification. The Department will update the application, voucher, and certification as necessary.

(d) The resident district board of education is not required to pay aid in lieu of transportation when the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of a nonpublic school student returns a signed Nonpublic School Transportation Payment Voucher after the end of the fiscal year.

(e) The resident district board of education shall not expend more than the maximum per student expenditure for nonpublic school transportation in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1.

1. The calculation of the maximum per student expenditure shall not include any administrative fee charged by a CTSA.

(f) Transportation for nonpublic school students shall be provided Monday through Friday between September 1 and June 30 when the non-profit nonpublic school is in session.

(g) Nonpublic school administrators shall submit all Nonpublic School Transportation Applications to the resident district board of education no later than March 15. Eligible students shall receive transportation or aid in lieu of transportation based upon the date the resident district board of education receives the Nonpublic School Transportation Applications.

(h) The payment of aid in lieu of transportation may be adjusted when the Nonpublic School Transportation Application is received after the start of the nonpublic school's year, or when the student withdraws from the nonpublic school before the close of the school year.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:27-2.1

Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020) 52 N.J.R. 1362(a), effective 6/17/2020

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 163(a), effective 2/1/2021