Student Transportation
DoDEA Student Transportation
The mission of the DoDEA Student Transportation Program is to provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for students to and from school and school related activities, and to support instructional programs by delivering students safely, on time, and with a mind set for learning.
School bus transportation is an important facet of the educational experience. The school bus is the first and last thing many of our students experience and it shapes how their day begins and ends. The following information will help your student get the most of out of their school bus experience.
Our agency is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of all students attending DoDEA Schools. The school districts are committed in providing their community schools with safe and efficient transportation for students to and from school and school related activities. Assistance will be given in the areas of driver training, funding, equipment specifications and purchases, interpretation of laws and regulations, and routing.
We are committed to provide professional services to ensure the quality of service expected by the military services. Every effort will be made to keep our services in the forefront of the quality, safety and efficiency expected.
Student Transportation - Pac East
The Student Transportation Office (STO) is dedicated to providing the community with safe school bus transportation services that are timely and comfortable. There is an STO at every DoDEA Pacific school complex. Each STO is staffed by highly trained and capable transportation specialists to manage the complex’s student transportation operation. We strive for continuous process improvement in all areas of our operation.
A BUS PASS IS REQUIRED FOR STUDENT’S UTILIZING DAILY COMMUTE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
Registering for School Bus Pass
Please complete and submit the following to the STO either by email or in person:
- DD Form 4500: Student Transportation Request Form
- Acknowledgement Form
- Separately attach a digital photo of each student (No hats/No sunglasses)
- OR the student must be present for the photograph in our office
- Walk-ins Okay (please call ahead)
- Appointments are preferred and take priority over walk-ins (email or call to make an appointment)
Zama/Atsugi STO
- Location: Rm# 508, Zama Middle/High School (Bldg.# 919)
- Phone #: 0464-07-4151
- DSN #: 263-4151
- Office Hours: 0730 - 1500 / Mon - Fri
- Email: JapanTransportationZama@DODEA.EDU
Student Bus Transportation
Walking Distances
The walking distance for grades 6 and below will not normally exceed 1 mile from their primary residence to the school or designated bus stop. Students in grades 7-12 may walk up to 1.5 miles from their primary residence to the school or designated bus stop. These distances may be slightly expanded or contracted to conform to natural boundaries such as housing areas or neighborhoods. In locations, such as Okinawa, having middle schools, which include grade 6 (i.e., grades 6-8), the walking distance criteria shall be the same as the criteria for grades 7-12.
Student Transportation / Daily Commutes
This is defined as the transportation of students from their assigned bus stop to school at the beginning of their school day, mid-day, and the return to their assigned bus stop at the end of the normal scheduled school day. Maps illustrating bus stops and commuting zones are available at the base housing office and the STO office.
Only one trip to and from school per day is authorized for each student.
Transportation is not authorized to take students to their homes or to eating facilities for their mid-day meal.
Only students attending DoDEA schools, bus drivers, dispatchers, STO personnel, assigned safety/security attendants, community bus monitors, and security personnel assigned by the installation commander are authorized to ride daily commuting services. Additional authorized passengers are U.S. Military Police and host nation police while in the performance of their official duties, and persons authorized in writing by the DoDEA Principal or his or her designee, the contracting officer, or the STO.
Other Student Transportation Authorizations
Daily round trip transportation may be provided to students residing outside the commuting area but are transported at their own expense to an existing school bus stop within the commuting area.
Non-federally connected, space-available, tuition-paying students may be permitted to utilize school bus commuting services on a space-available basis. Even though space-available service may be initially provided, it may be withdrawn at any time.
Off Base Transportation Availability
Transportation is available for many off base housing areas around installations with schools; however, before signing a lease for an off base house please check with the STO to ensure transportation is available in that area for the school you plan your child to attend.
A map and/or narrative description is used to identify the commuting area for each school is available at each STO.
Lost Items
Please call your local STO if your child leaves something on the bus or loses their bus pass.
