Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Choice School
The aid in lieu of transportation (AIL) amount equals $1,177.00 or a daily rate of $6.54 ($1,177 divided by 180) for the 2025-2026 school year.
The choice school must be located within New Jersey.
Choice school students who reside in the district in which the choice school is located must reside remote from their choice school to be eligible for transportation. Choice school students who live less than remote from their choice school are eligible for courtesy transportation services in accordance with the policies of the district board of education in which they live.
Special education students are eligible for transportation services as specified by the student’s individual education plan (IEP).
Remote is defined by N.J.A.C. 6A:27-1.2
- The words “remote from the school” shall mean beyond 2 ½ miles for high school (grades 9-12) students and beyond two miles for elementary school students (grades K-8).
- Measurement shall be made by the shortest route along public roadways or public walkways between the entrance of the student’s residence nearest such public roadway or walkway and the nearest public entrance of the choice school.
- Determine eligibility for transportation services and provide transportation or aid in lieu of transportation to eligible choice school students.
Notify, by August 1, the parents or guardians of the choice school student and the administrator of the choice school regarding the transportation services to be provided. Aid in lieu of transportation may be adjusted or prorated by the district board of education in which the student resides for late registration or early withdrawal from the choice school. - Provide transportation within the maximum per student expenditure. If the costs of transportation exceed the maximum permitted, parents or guardians may choose to pay the excess amount over the maximum or instead receive the full aide in lieu of transportation amount.
- Prepare routes and determine the method of transportation to be provided to the choice school student.
- Submit the "Application for Transportation Services" forms to the administrator of the choice school for the January and May certifications.
- Send the “Request for Payment of Transportation Aid” voucher to the parents or guardians of the choice school student after each semester.
- Establish transportation agreement and payment procedures for transportation services for students whose parents or guardians have chosen to pay the cost exceeding the maximum permitted expenditure.
- Submit the choice school calendar to the district boards of education responsible for providing transportation services by May 15 preceding the school year in which transportation is being requested. The school calendar must include the opening and closing times of the school day, days when school is closed, and any schedule which is less than or extended beyond the regular school day.
- Submit an “Application for Transportation Services” form to each student’s district board of education:
- at the time of each student’s enrollment or by March 15 preceding the school year in which transportation services are being requested, whichever is later.
- When a student has a change in address or withdraws from school.
An “Application for Transportation Services” form for special education students must include special transportation needs required by their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). - Certify through the “Application for Transportation Services” form that the students who receive transportation services or aid in lieu of transportation were enrolled for each semester of the academic year. Complete the certification forms and submit them to the district board of education in which each student resides as prescribed by the board by the deadline established by the resident district.
- Notify the students’ parents or guardians of their responsibility to complete and return documents necessary for transportation services or the payment of aid in lieu of transportation required by the district board of education in which the student resides.
- Notify the student’s resident district board of education when there is a change in the school location.
- Provide the following information to the lead person of the choice school at the time of a student’s enrollment or when there is a change in the student's address:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Grade
- One-way mileage between the student’s home and the choice school
- Name of the last school of attendance
- Submit a signed “Request for Payment of Transportation Aid” voucher in the manner prescribed by the district board of education in which the student resides to be eligible to receive aid in lieu of transportation.
- Notify in writing the district board of education in which the student resides of your decision regarding paying for transportation costs which exceed the maximum permitted expenditure. Once the parents or guardians agree to pay the amount over the maximum, and the board of education approves, they are no longer entitled to receive aid in lieu of transportation for that school year.
After the district board of education notifies the parent or guardian that the cost of transportation exceeds the maximum, the parent or guardian has seven days to notify the board in writing of their decision. If nothing is received, then the student shall not be entitled to transportation, but the parents or guardians shall receive aid in lieu of transportation. - Pay for transportation services in the manner prescribed by the district board of education in which the student resides when transportation is provided at a cost exceeding the maximum permitted expenditure.
- Immediately notify in writing the student’s resident district board of education when there is a change in the school location or residential address.