Student Transportation

To arrange transportation, please contact Baldwin-Whitehall School District directly at 412-885-7595.
Baldwin-Whitehall School District

Brentwood Borough School District does not provide transportation as it is a walking district. Questions related to the district’s policies should be directed to Brentwood. 

Brentwood Borough School District
412-881-2227

Carlynton School District
412-429-2500 ext. 1107

The Carlynton School District does not provide transportation to ECS as it is outside of the 10-mile radius requirement. Questions should be directed to the Carlynton School District.

East Allegheny School District
412-824-8012

All Charter School students transported by East Allegheny School District must complete a Transportation Registration Form, found here, yearly to receive transportation. Submit completed forms to Tina Nicholls at tnicholls@eawildcats.net.

Fox Chapel Area School District
412-963-9600

To arrange transportation, please contact Fox Chapel directly:  Linda Casile, Coordinator of Ancillary Services, can be reached via email at linda_casile@fcasd.edu or phone 412-967-2423.

Gateway School District 
412-372-5300

All Charter School students transported by Gateway School District must complete Transportation Registration online. Please visit www.gatewayk12.org to arrange transportation or contact Gateway directly at 412-373-5728.

Hempfield School District
724-834-2590

The Hempfield School District does not provide transportation to ECS as it is outside of the 10-mile radius requirement. Questions should be directed to Hempfield School District. 

McKeesport Area School District
412-664-3600

Contact the McKeesport Area School District directly to register at 412-664-3762 or by email at transportation@mckasd.net.

New Kensington-Arnold School District
724-335-4401

The New Kensington-Arnold School District does not provide transportation to ECS as it is is outside the 10-mile radius requirement. Questions should be directed to the New Kensington-Arnold School District. 

Northgate School District
412-732-3300  

Northgate School District does not provide transportation as it is a walking district. Questions related to the district’s policies should be directed to Northgate. 

Penn Hills School District
412-793-7000

All Charter School students transported by Penn Hills School District must complete a Transportation Registration Form yearly in order to receive transportation. Questions should be directed to Rob VanRyn, Penn Hills Transportation Coordinator at 412-793-7000, Ext. 1219. 

Pittsburgh Public School District
412-529-4357

All Charter School students transported by Pittsburgh Public School District, via Yellow School Bus or Pittsburgh Regional Transit, must submit an online request for transportation annually. The form must be completed for each student from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Your PPS Student ID will be required to complete the form request. The student ID that PPS refers to can be found in your Alma account (Click the Profile Circle, Under My Students, Home District Bus ID). If you have difficulty accessing Alma, please contact the ECS Technology Help Desk at sis_support@ecspgh.org. 

If you don’t have access to Alma to locate your Student ID or if there is no Student ID listed for your student in Alma, you must contact PPS to retrieve your Student’s ID number by reaching out to the PPS Parent Hotline, 412‐529‐HELP [4357]. The Parent Hotline operates Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM – 4 PM, or by email at  parenthotline@pghschools.org. ECS can not verify if you have or haven't completed the transportation document. Please contact PPS to verify.

Bus route assignments for K-5 students will be emailed out within a week before the start of the school year.

PRT PRTner Pass

All students in grades 6–12 are required to obtain a PRTner pass because it will be used regularly for Out the Door Learning activities, field trips, and other school related transportation needs. Students who do not obtain their free pass may be unable to participate in certain activities.

Digital Passes Through Ready2Ride

Monthly digital passes are available through PRT’s Ready2Ride mobile app. All students who have access to a smartphone or other compatible smart device are required to download the Ready2Ride app and use the digital pass.

To access the digital pass, students must:

1. Download the Ready2Ride app.
2. Create an account using their student information. (You will need your student's ECS e-mail. If you don't know your student's ECS e-mail address, please contact the ECS help desk.
3. Complete the required verification process.

Instructions for downloading the app and creating an account are provided below.

Physical Pass Requests

PRT will provide a physical pass to students who do not have access to a smart device.

Families requesting a physical pass must complete the Student Information Form for their child. Families with more than one ECS student who requires a physical pass must submit a separate form for each student.

Students whose families do not submit the physical pass request form will be expected to download the Ready2Ride app and use a digital pass.

Physical passes may be picked up from the main office of the student’s respective ECS building beginning Tuesday, August 11, through the start of the school year. Passes will be available for pick up Monday through Friday, excluding weekends, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

If your child has a medical condition that requires specialized transportation you and your child’s physician will need to complete a Medical Form and submit it to Health Services at PPS. They will then inform ECS of your child's eligibility for medical transportation. Should your child qualify, you will be notified by email of the new arrangements. The completed form should be returned to Health Services, Rm 430 – 341 S Bellefield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. It can also be faxed to 412-622-3927. Questions should be directed to 412-529-3942.

Hazardous Route Requests  

If you feel your route is hazardous for walkers, you may appeal your eligibility for transportation by printing and completing a Hazardous Route Form. 

Next, you must submit it to your principal so that he/she can complete their portion of the form and forward it to Pupil Transportation. 

All forms received by Pupil Transportation are sent to PENNDOT for review. 

Determinations are made by PENNDOT in accordance with state mandated guidelines PA Code 447.4, Hazardous Walking Routes. 

PENNDOT will review the nature of the hazard, if any,  and make a final decision. You will be notified by mail from our Transportation Office of PENNDOT's decision. 

Riverview School District
412-828-1800

Contact the Riverview School District directly to register.

Seneca Valley School District
724-452-6040 ext. 1637

Seneca Valley School District does not provide transportation to ECS as it is outside of the 10-mile radius requirement. Questions should be directed to the Seneca Valley School District. 

Shaler Area School District
412-492-1200 ext. 2824

All Charter SChool students transported by Shaler School District must submit an online request for transportation annually. 

Steel Valley School District
412.464.3600

Steel Valley School District does not provide transportation because it is a walking district. Questions related to the district’s policies should be directed to Steel Valley.

Sto-Rox School District
412-771-3213

Sto-Rox School District does not provide transportation to ECS as it is outside of the 10-mile radius requirement. Questions should be directed to the Sto-Rox School District. 

West Mifflin School District
412-346-4108

All Charter School students transported by West Mifflin School District must submit an online request for transportation annually. The form must be completed for each student, Kindergarten - 12th grade. 

Wilkinsburg School District
412-371-9667

Wilkinsburg School District provides PRT bus passes for ECS students. Contact the District's Transportation Department at 412-871-2107 or email Diane Ionadi at ionadid@wilkinsburgschools.org.

Woodland Hills School District
412-731-1300 ext 8013

All Charter School students transported by Woodland Hills School District must submit an online request for transportation annually.

The form can be located HERE. A form must be completed for each student from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Student transportation assignments will be available to be viewed through the MyRide K-12 portal one week prior to the school’s start date.

Please contact the Woodland Hills Transportation Department with any questions or concerns. The Transportation Department is open from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. The department can be reached by phone at 412-731-1300, x 8013 or via email at bus@whsd.us. 

PRT PRTner Pass Program for ALL Students Grades 6–12

All ECS middle and high school students in grades 6–12 will receive a monthly Pittsburgh Regional Transit pass at no cost to families through the PRTner Pass Program. The monthly pass provides students with unlimited rides throughout the school year and it is not limited or tracked by individual trips. Students will receive passes for each month from August through June.

Students who currently receive yellow bus transportation will continue to receive that service in addition to the monthly PRT pass.

All students in grades 6–12 are required to obtain a pass because it will be used regularly for Out the Door Learning activities, field trips, and other school related transportation needs. Students who do not obtain their free pass may be unable to participate in certain activities.

Digital Passes Through Ready2Ride

Monthly digital passes are available through PRT’s Ready2Ride mobile app. All students who have access to a smartphone or other compatible smart device are required to download the Ready2Ride app and use the digital pass.

To access the digital pass, students must:

1. Download the Ready2Ride app.
2. Create an account using their student information. (You will need your student's ECS e-mail. If you don't know your student's ECS e-mail address, please contact the ECS help desk.
3. Complete the required verification process.

Click here for instructions for downloading the app and creating an account.

Physical Pass Requests

PRT will provide a physical pass to students who do not have access to a smart device.

Families requesting a physical pass must complete the Student Information Form for their child. Families with more than one ECS student who requires a physical pass must submit a separate form for each student.

Students whose families do not submit the physical pass request form will be expected to download the Ready2Ride app and use a digital pass.

Physical passes may be picked up from the main office of the student’s respective ECS building beginning Tuesday, August 11, through the start of the school year. Passes will be available for pick up Monday through Friday, excluding weekends, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

We believe the PRTner Pass Program will be a valuable resource for our students and families, and we appreciate your participation.

For questions or additional information, please contact Latonia Cherry at latonia.cherry@ecspgh.org.

K-5 students are eligible for transportation if they live 1.6 miles or further from their school. This means if you live 1.5 miles or less, you are deemed a walker and ineligible for transportation. The parents/guardians are responsible for providing transportation then.  

Transportation Eligibility is determined by the PA Department of Education Guidelines. They are strictly adhered to.

Distances are measured from the nearest point where a private way or private road connects the residence of the students to the nearest point where a public road touches the school grounds.

Students are not eligible for transportation if the school they are attending is more than 10 miles outside of the school district in which they live.

• View the PRT Community Map

• Bus Schedules

• How to Ride the PRT

• PRT Mobile Apps

• True Time Trip Planner

• 2024 Safety Report

• PPS Transportation Policy

• PPS Transportation Portal

• PA School Transportation Frequently Asked Questions

Please review the ECS bus guideline documents below with your student: 
Bus Rules

Bus Conduct and Consequences

These expectations are put in place for the safety of the students. ECS cannot make changes to any additional expectations set in place by your assigned route driver.

• Students are assigned to one bus with the same home pick-up and drop-off address listed in Alma.
• Students may use any stop on their assigned bus with prior approval from the transportation coordinator.
• Stop change requests will not be considered until the end of September, after all eligible students are assigned.
• No alternate route busing home after school is available.

• Pick-up and drop-off times are estimates and may be adjusted by the driver as they deem fit for the route.
• Students should be at their stop 10 minutes before pick-up and wait up to 20 minutes after the scheduled time.
• If a bus comes during that time and your child misses it, parents must transport them to school.
• For late or missed buses, contact the bus garage directly, not the school.

If you have moved and you have not completed a change of address with ECS you will not be assigned a new bus until you complete the process:

• Contact the enrollment department at enrollment@ecspgh.org.
• Please allow up to 2 weeks for a new route to be assigned.

Please set your default transportation plan in Pick Up Patrol (PUP). 

• PUP information will be emailed separately.
• All daily transportation changes for K–5 must be submitted through PUP.

Yes. Whether your student is new or returning, state law requires that families of charter, non-public and parochial students needing daily transportation (yellow bus or Pittsburgh Regional Transit) must request service annually. Transportation will not be provided if no request is submitted.

If your school district is not listed on this page, contact Latonia Cherry for assistance:

Latonia Cherry
latonia.cherry@ecspgh.org
412-247-7970, x 9400

If your middle schooler receives a PRT pass to get to and from school, they cannot ride the traditional yellow bus with their sibling. Only students assigned by the school district to a bus are eligible to ride that yellow bus. 

ECS provides specialized transportation to students with 504s and IEPs who qualify. To learn more, please contact Assistant to the Superintendent for Student Services and Special Education Maryssa Stavross at Maryssa.stavros@ecspgh.org

ECS’ Parent Community Organization (PCO) is creating a Discord channel. Discord is an instant messaging and VoIP social platform which allows communication through voice calls, video calls, text messaging, and media. Communication can be private or take place in virtual communities called "servers."

The platform allows families to find each other and can be particularly helpful in navigating middle school transportation on PRT for students that live in the PPS district. Discord servers may include ones for families looking to carpool, or parents seeking bus buddies for their students, and more. Watch for a future announcement.