Guidelines for free school transport in Ås
The municipality’s guidelines for free home to school transport, adopted by the Committee for Childhood and Culture 17.02.2016, can be found below.
Adopted by the Committee for Childhood and Culture on 20.08.2014 with statutory basis in the Act of 20.08.2014. Amendments adopted by the Committee of Childhood and Culture, 17.2.2016.
1.0 Aims
- To provide clear information on applicable regulations
- To contribute to uniform management of school transport issues
2.0 Right to free school transport
2.1 Pupils in year 1 who live more than two kilometres from the school they attend are entitled to free transport, cf. Section 7-1 of the Norwegian Education Act 2.1 Pupils in years 2-10 who live more than four kilometres from the school they attend are entitled to free transport, cf. Section 7-1 of the Norwegian Education Act This provision also applies to pupils attending private schools who are entitled to state subsidy. Applications for school transport should be submitted to the pupil’s school.
2.2 Pupils who have a particularly hazardous or difficult route to school are entitled to free transport irrespective of distance, cf. Section 7-1 of the Norwegian Education Act
This provision also applies to pupils attending private schools who are entitled to state subsidy.
Applications for school transport should be submitted to the pupil’s school.
2.3 Transport granted on the basis of particularly hazardous routes may be organised in such a way that the pupil is only taken the section that has been designated as hazardous. The pupil will then be collected/set down at a stop/pick-up point and may have to walk the last section home/to school. Acceptable walking distances to and from the nearest stop/pick-up points for pupils in Akershus are:
1 km for year 1
2 km for years 2 -10
2.4 Transport is organised in the most practical way possible and with due consideration for acceptable waiting, walking and transport times. These must be viewed in context. A guide to travelling times for pupils in Akershus is as follows:
45 min (each way) for years 1 -3
60 min (each way) for years 4 -6
75 min (each way) for years 7 -10
2.5 Pupils who due to disability or temporary injury or illness require transport are entitled to transport irrespective of the distance between their home address and the place of learning, cf. Section 7-3 of the Norwegian Education Act
Applications, including a doctor’s certificate, should be submitted to the pupil’s school.
2.6 Children with a disability in years 1 -7 with a place on the daycare scheme are entitled to transport to and from the scheme, cf. Sections 7-3 and 13-7 of the Norwegian Education Act. The right to transport applies irrespective of the distance between their home address and the daycare scheme.
The right to transport does not include transport during school holidays.
2.6 Children with a disability in years 8 -10 who attend a municipal scheme equivalent to a daycare scheme are entitled to transport to and from this scheme.
The right to transport does not include transport during school holidays.
2.8 Children under school age who receive special educational assistance are entitled to transport when transport is required due to particular circumstances in order for them to receive such assistance and if their parents have significantly greater transport-related difficulties than other parents who have children at nursery, cf. Section 7-6 of the Norwegian Education Act
2.9 Adults who have not completed primary school and who live more than four kilometres from the school are entitled to free transport if they are undertaking primary school education, cf. Section 4A-7 of the Norwegian Education Act. Adults who due to disability, illness or injury require transport require transport are entitled to free transport irrespective of distance when they are undertaking primary school education under this provision.
2.10 When the school makes a decision on whether a pupil is entitled to free transport, the distance is calculated from the pupil’s home to the school by the shortest route along roads that are cleared in winter. The home is the address at which the pupil is registered.
2.11 Transport is usually only provided on public roads. Transport must be provided so far as to ensure that the walking limits set out in sub-section 2.1 are not exceeded.
3. Decisions on the right to school transport
3.1 All applications for school transport must be submitted to the pupil’s school. This applies to school transport on the basis of distance, illness or particularly hazardous routes. Application forms can be obtained from the school or on the municipality website.
3.2 It is Ruter AS on behalf of the County of Akershus that makes decisions on free school transport based on distance, cf. sub-section 2.1. The decision on a pupil’s right to school transport is a decision made on an individual basis, cf. Section 2 of the Norwegian Public Administration Act. The decision on distance can be appealed with an appeals deadline of three weeks calculated from the date of receipt of the letter, cf. Sections 28 and 29 of the Norwegian Public Administration Act. Appeals must be submitted to the pupil’s school. The school forwards the appeal to Ruter which may change the decision before the appeal is heard by the appeals body. The appeals body is the county governor in Oslo and Akershus.
3.3 The principal makes decisions on an individual basis on free school transport in cases relating to transport due to particularly hazardous or difficult routes to and from school, cf. subsection 2.2 and Section 4. The decision on a pupil’s right to school transport is a decision made on an individual basis, cf. Section 2 of the Norwegian Public Administration Act. The decision on particularly hazardous routes may be appealed with an appeals deadline of three weeks calculated from the date of receipt of the letter, cf. Sections 28 and 29 of the Norwegian Public Administration Act. Appeals must be submitted to the pupil’s school. Appeals are then heard by the childhood and culture director. The appeals body is the county governor in Oslo and Akershus.
4. Particularly hazardous and/or difficult routes to and from school in Ås.
In the Municipality of Ås, pupils are able to apply for free transport pursuant to Section 7-1 of the Norwegian Education Act, cf. guidelines contained in sub-section 2.2 on/in the following roads/areas:
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Schools and roads
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Notes |
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Brønnerud School: |
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The section between Teigen to the crossing where Kongeveien becomes Kirkeveien/the entrance to Ås Church. |
The crossing is considered particularly hazardous all year round for years 1 -4. These pupils are offered transport throughout the year. The section is considered particularly hazardous for pupils in years 5. -10 from week 41 up to an including week 7. These pupils are offered transport in winter. |
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Crossing at R152/ Drøbaksveien above Åsulvsvei. |
Crossing of R152 at Åsulvsvei is deemed to be particularly hazardous for pupils in years 2-7 from week 41 up to and including week 7. These pupils are offered transport in winter. * |
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Kroer School: |
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Section between Bakk and the crossing at Gulli. |
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The section between Teigen and Rød.
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Nordby School: |
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The section between Melbykrysset and Vassum. |
The crossing is considered particularly hazardous all year round for years 1 -7. These pupils are offered transport throughout the year. |
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The section between Melbykrysset and Teigen.
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The section is considered particularly hazardous for years 1 -4. |
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Rustad: |
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Crossing of the section from Holstad to Ski, Rv 152 north of E 18. |
The crossing is considered particularly hazardous all year round for years 1 -4. These pupils are offered transport throughout the year. |
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Crossing of the section from Rustad to Holstad; Skuterudsletta. |
The crossing is considered particularly hazardous for years 2-4. These pupils are offered transport throughout the year.* The crossing is considered particularly hazardous for pupils in years 5 -10 from week 41 up to an including week 7. These pupils are offered transport in winter. |
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Crossing at E 18 east of R 152. |
The crossing is considered particularly hazardous for years 1 -7. These pupils are offered transport throughout the year. |
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Solberg: |
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Crossing at E 18 at Sneissletta for pupils in years 1 -7. |
The crossing at E 18 is considered particularly hazardous for pupils in years 1-7. These pupils are offered transport throughout the year. |
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Åsgård: |
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The section from the crossing of Brekkeveien – Bjørkeveien and south over Brekkeveien. |
The section is considered particularly hazardous for years 1 -7 from week 41 up to an including week 7. These pupils are offered transport in winter. |
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Ås Secondary School: |
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Crossing of the section from Rustad to Holstad; Skuterudsletta. |
The crossing is considered particularly hazardous for pupils in years 8 -10 from week 41 up to an including week 7. These pupils are offered transport in winter. |
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The section between Teigen to the crossing where Kongeveien becomes Kirkeveien/the entrance to Ås Church. |
The section is considered particularly hazardous for pupils in years 8. -10 from week 41 up to an including week 7. These pupils are offered transport in winter. |
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* Pupils in year 1 are provided with school transport throughout the year if the distance to school is more than 2 kilometres
5. Definition of route to and from school
Routes to and from school must be calculated as the distance between the home and the school entrance.
6. Formal schemes
6.1 The childhood and culture director determines the extent of the transport catchment areas.
6.2 Special schemes can be put in place if geographical, traffic or climate conditions should require it.
6.3 Special schemes may be put in place on a permanent or temporary basis. They may apply for the whole or parts of the school year. They may also be limited only to apply to certain year groups.
6.4 Proposals for special schemes, traffic safety or improvement of routes to and from schools should be submitted to the applicable liaison committee.
6.5 The childhood and culture director has the authority to adopt special schemes for up to a year within the framework of the budget.
6.6 It is not possible for the principal at each school to deviate from the approved schemes.
6.7 The main committee for childhood and culture is authorised to amend these guidelines.