The child's caseworker is responsible for working with the local school district to ensure appropriate transportation to and from school. The child's personal allowance, or any other portion of the foster care payment, is NOT to be used to pay for school transportation. 

FREE = Distance 

Most school districts are mandated to provide school transportation for students who live 1½ miles or more from their school and who live one mile or more from public transportation. 

FREE = Hazardous Conditions 

If traffic conditions constitute a serious hazard to the safety of the walking student living within 1½ miles of the school, local school districts may provide free transportation. The child's caseworker can ask the local school district to submit an "Application for Determination of Serious Safety Hazard" to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to obtain this reimbursement to the school district, thus providing the student free transportation. 

FREE = Students with Disabilities 

The local school district must provide whatever transportation is necessary for a child with a disability when that transportation will enable the child to benefit from school. Students with disabilities who have "transportation services" included in their Individualized Education Program (IEP), or their Section 504 plan, are to be provided transportation free of charge regardless of the student's distance from school or to public transportation. When transportation services are not provided or the child does not qualify for these services, caregivers are reimbursed for school transportation costs incurred for the child. Caregivers are not required to use board payments or the child's allowance to pay for school transportation for youth in their care.