How to get your kids to KidsArts! Afterschool Program:
Most students coming from a Boston Public School take the school bus to KidsArts! from their regular school.
Students must first apply for what is called Alternative Transportation — meaning a parent can request that a bus transport their child to an after school program from their public school (instead of transporting them to their own home).
There are a couple of conditions:
1. The requested stop must be on one of the school’s regular bus routes.
2. There must be a seat available on the bus.
Per BPS policy: Parents should be aware that the BPS does not guarantee that the request for an alternative stop will be granted. Alternative stop requests are processed in the order they are received. Please note that requests received in late August and September may take several weeks to process. The earlier you submit your request, the better your chance for approval.
We recommend that you print out the Alternative Transportation form, fill it out and submit your request directly to the BPS Transportation Department or to the principal of your child’s school who will forward it to Transportation. Faxing your form (617-635-9541) makes it go more quickly!
Helpful information when filling out the form:
- School ID and Student ID: you can get these from your school -or- by calling the BPS Transportation Department (617-635-9520)
- Name of Day Care Facility: KidsArts!
- Address of Day Care Facility: 6 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
- Person meeting your child: KidsArts! staff
- Proposed Corner Stop: Corner of Eliot and Centre Streets, Jamaica Plain
Keep a copy of your request. Once you have faxed the form, make a follow up call to BPS Transportation at 617-635-9520.
KidsArts! parents are available to help other parents go through this process! If you have any problems, please contact parent Susan Moir at susanmoir@gmail.com. She will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have.
Further Details
BPS recommends that during the summer, you submit your request to:
Transportation Department
Boston Public Schools
26 Court Street, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02108
fax: 617-635-9541
phone: 617-635-9520
Many schools already have kids traveling to KidsArts! so your child might be assigned to a bus that is already scheduled to stop at Eliot and Centre. KidsArts! staff have a system of meeting kids at the buses and walking them the ½ block to the After-School program site.
For additional information and policy guidelines go to the BPS Transportation website.
