Subscription Busing FAQs

Find answers to common questions about the Hanover Township Public Schools subscription busing program for the 2026-2027 school year. Click the question to view the answer.

If you do not find the information you need, contact the Transportation Department at [PHONE NUMBER TBD] or email [EMAIL TBD].

Eligibility

Who is affected by the transportation policy change?

Families with students who live within 2.0 miles of their assigned school are affected. Previously, the district provided courtesy busing for students living 1.5 miles or more from school. The district has now aligned with the state-mandated standard under N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1, which sets the threshold at 2.0 miles for grades K-8.

Students who previously received courtesy busing under the 1.5-mile radius and live less than 2.0 miles from their school will no longer receive free transportation. These families are eligible to apply for subscription busing.

How is the distance from my home to school measured?

Distance is measured by the shortest route along public roads or public walkways from the entrance of your home nearest the public roadway or walkway to the nearest public entrance of the school building. This follows the method required by New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 6A:27-1.4).

The district uses its transportation mapping software to determine distances. Google Maps or other online tools will give you an approximation, but the official measurement comes from the Transportation Department. If you need your distance verified, contact the Transportation Department at [PHONE NUMBER TBD] or email [EMAIL TBD].

My student was previously bused under the 1.5-mile courtesy policy. Are they now eligible for subscription busing?

Yes. If your student lives less than 2.0 miles from their assigned school and was previously receiving courtesy busing, your student is eligible to apply for subscription busing. A seat is not guaranteed and depends on available capacity.

Do students on hazardous routes still receive free busing?

Yes. Students assigned to designated hazardous routes continue to receive district-provided transportation at no cost, regardless of how far they live from school. The hazardous route designations are reviewed and approved by the Board of Education. If you are unsure whether your student is on a hazardous route, contact the Transportation Department.

Are special education students affected by this change?

Students with transportation included as a related service in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) will continue to receive transportation at no cost. The subscription busing program applies to general education transportation for students living within 2.0 miles of their assigned school.

My student attends a different school from our neighborhood school (e.g., a program-based placement). Which school is used for the distance measurement?

Distance is measured from your home to the school your student is assigned to attend, not your neighborhood school. Contact the Transportation Department if you have questions about your specific situation.

Costs and Payment

How much does subscription busing cost?

Annual rates for the 2026-2027 school year are:

Plan	Annual Fee
1st Student	$700
2 Students from same household	$900
Family Cap (3+ students)	$1,000

There is no rates for one-way trips.

The per-day cost is approximately $3.80 for one student and $2.45 per student per day for two students, based on the 184-day school year.

Is there a family cap or multi-student discount?

Yes. The family cap is $1,000 for three or more students from the same household. If you have one student, the fee is $700. For two students, the fee is $900. For three or more students, the total fee is capped at $1,000 regardless of how many students are enrolled.

When is payment due?

Payment must be received by [PAYMENT DEADLINE TBD]. Your application is not considered complete until payment is processed.

If payment is not received by the deadline, your student's seat will be forfeited and your application will be moved to the late application pool.

How do I pay?

Payment is processed through PaySchools Central, the same platform used for HTPS food services. Confirm whether both credit card and eCheck are accepted. If credit card convenience fees apply, add:

If you need assistance with PaySchools Central, contact the Business Office at (973) 515-2400.

Is the fee refundable?

Subscription busing fees are non-refundable. Prorated refunds are available only for families who:

Move out of the Hanover Township Public Schools district during the school year
Move to an address that qualifies for state-mandated busing (2.0 miles or more from school)

Refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Transportation Department by September 15, 2026.

Is a one-way option available (AM only or PM only)?

At this time, subscription busing is offered as round-trip service only. There is no option for one-way (AM only or PM only) transportation.

Fee Waivers

Is the subscription busing fee waived for families who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch?

Yes. Families who qualify for free lunch through the National School Lunch Program are eligible for a full fee waiver. Families who qualify for reduced-price lunch are eligible for a reduced subscription busing rate of [REDUCED AMOUNT TBD].

A subscription busing application must still be submitted. Seats are subject to availability.

How do I apply for a fee waiver?

On the subscription busing application, you will be asked whether your family qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. If you select "Yes," the Business Office will verify your eligibility using existing lunch program records.

You do not need to submit a separate fee waiver application.

If you have not yet submitted a lunch application for the 2026-2027 school year, you should do so before applying for subscription busing. Lunch applications are available through the Payschools Central portal or by contacting the Business Office.

Where do I verify my free/reduced lunch eligibility?

Contact Kathy Murray in the Business Office at (973) 515-2407 or email kmurray@htboe.org

Application and Enrollment

How do I apply for subscription busing?

Complete the Subscription Busing Application in the Genesis Parent Portal.
Pay the subscription busing fee through PaySchools Central. Wait 15 minutes for your Payschools account to reflect the fee then make your payment.
You will receive an email confirming your application was received.
The district will notify you of your student's seat status by [DATE TBD].

Do I need to submit a separate application for each child?

Yes. A separate application is required for each student. If you have multiple children, submit one form per child and pay the appropriate family rate through PaySchools Central.

When will I find out if my student has a seat?

The district will notify families of seat status by [NOTIFICATION DATE TBD]. Notification will be sent to the email address you provide on the application. Route and stop information will be posted in the [Genesis/PowerSchool TBD] Parent Portal by [PORTAL DATE TBD].

Is a seat guaranteed?

No. Subscription busing is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and depends on available seats on existing routes. Submitting an application does not guarantee a seat. The district will process applications in the order they are received.

What happens if seats are not available on my route?

If no seat is available when your application is processed, you will be notified by email.  You will be responsible for providing your own transportation to and from school.

Is there a waitlist?

Applications received after the priority deadline of [DATE TBD] will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as seats become available.

Does past participation guarantee a seat for the next year?

No. You must submit a new application and payment each school year. Past use of district busing (courtesy or subscription) does not guarantee a seat in future years.

Routes and Stops

Will I be able to choose my bus stop?

No. Students will be assigned to an existing bus stop and route based on their home address. Custom stop locations and route changes are not available. The Transportation Department designs routes to serve the broadest number of students safely and on time.

Will stops or routes change from what existed in previous years?

Routes and stops are created each summer based on enrollment, mandated busing obligations, and confirmed subscription busing applicants. Some stops and routes from previous years will remain. Others will be adjusted based on ridership patterns and seat availability.

What time should my student be at the bus stop?

Your student should be at the assigned bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. Pickup times will be posted in the Genesis Parent Portal once routes are finalized. Times are estimates and will vary depending on traffic, weather, and the number of students riding on a given day.

Are activity buses or late buses included with subscription busing?

No. Subscription busing covers transportation to school in the morning and from school at dismissal only. Activity buses and late buses are separate programs managed by individual schools. Contact your student's school office for information about after-school activity transportation.

Is before-school or after-school care transportation included?

No. Subscription busing provides transportation to and from school during regular school hours only. Families using HTSACC (Hanover Township School Age Child Care) or other before/after-school programs are responsible for their own transportation arrangements for those programs.

Policies and Conduct

What behavior expectations apply on the bus?

All students riding district transportation, including subscription busing, are expected to follow the Hanover Township Public Schools Code of Conduct and Board Policy 8600 (Transportation). Bus riding is a privilege. Students who violate conduct expectations are subject to disciplinary action, which will follow existing district procedures.

What happens if my student is removed from the bus for a disciplinary issue?

Disciplinary issues on the bus or at a bus stop are the responsibility of the building principal. If a student loses bus privileges due to a discipline issue, the family is responsible for providing transportation for the duration of the suspension. Subscription busing fees are not refunded for lost bus privileges.

What happens if a bus route is canceled for a day (driver shortage, weather, etc.)?

The Transportation Department will notify families as soon as possible if a route is canceled. If your student's route is canceled on a single day, you are responsible for providing transportation to school.

How will I be notified of bus delays or cancellations?

The district will send notifications through the same communication channels used for other school alerts (email and phone). Make sure your contact information in the Genesis Parent Portal is current.

More Information

Questions?

Contact the Transportation Department at (973) 515-2444 or email transportation@htboe.org