SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN TO THEIR PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHEN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED (CT APP).
The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Garcia, determined a school district is not required to transport children to their private schools when the public schools are closed:
Education Law § 3635 (1) (a) provides: “Sufficient transportation facilities (including the operation and maintenance of motor vehicles) shall be provided by the school district for all the children residing within the school district to and from the school they legally attend, who are in need of such transportation because of the remoteness of the school to the child or for the promotion of the best interest of such children.”
The issue on appeal is whether by requiring that school districts provide “sufficient” transportation, the statute obligates school districts to afford nonpublic students transportation on days their schools are in session, including days when public schools are closed. We conclude it does not. Matter of United Jewish Community of Blooming Grove, Inc. v Washingtonville Cent. Sch. Dist., 2024 NY Slip Op 03377, CtApp 6-20-24
Practice Point: The Education Law does not require school districts to transport students to their private schools when the public schools are closed.
