Only those students who meet eligibility requirements by means of residence will be permitted to use school bus transportation for the purpose of travel to and from school. Children with handicapped conditions requiring special transportation as per the student's IEP will be provided free transportation between home and the special education programs provided by the district.

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, elementary, intermediate and K-8 school students living 1.5 miles or more from school will be entitled to free bus transportation to and from school. Middle and high school students living 2.5 miles or more from school will be entitled to free bus transportation to and from school.

Springfield has a number of streets with an exceptionally high volume of traffic. In order to prevent elementary and middle school students from having to cross the busiest streets, SPS provides free transportation to elementary students who live less than 1.5 miles from school and to middle school students who live less than 2.5 miles from school in areas where they must cross a barrier street. To be classified as a barrier street, streets must meet at least one of the following criteria:

 Middle School Students

• Any street with a functional classification of Freeway or Expressway on the Springfield Major Thoroughfare Plan
• A street with a speed limit of 45 MPH or more
• A street with a traffic volume over 25,000 vehicles per day

Elementary School Students

• Any street with a functional classification of Freeway, Expressway or Primary Arterial* on the Springfield Major Thoroughfare Plan
• A street with a speed limit of 45 MPH or more
• A street with a traffic volume over 20,000 vehicles per day

* Certain primary arterial segments may be exempted from the barrier street status if special conditions are met, allowing students to cross at a “protected” intersection near the school. Such exempted roads must meet all of the following criteria:

1. The average daily vehicular traffic is less than 20,000
2. The speed limit is signed at 35 MPH or less
3. There is a professional crossing guard (guard warrant must be met)
4. There is a traffic signal
5. There are no splitter islands
6. The crossing distance is 100 feet or less