Free school bus parent letter templates
Ready-to-send letters for the things school-bus companies tell parents most. Press Copy the letter, paste it into an email or a document, and fill in everything in [square brackets].
Letters: Start of the school year · Route or pick-up time change · Bus running late · School bus rules · Bus behavior notice · Weather delay or closure
Start of the school year
Subject: Your child's school bus for [school year]
Dear Parent or Guardian, Welcome to a new school year. [Company name] will transport [student name] to and from [school name] on route [route number]. Morning pick-up: [time] at [stop] Afternoon drop-off: around [time] at [stop] Driver: [driver name] Please have your child at the stop five minutes early — the bus can't wait. [Kindergarten students must be met at the stop by an adult.] Bus rules are attached; please go over them with your child. If your child won't be riding, or you have a question, call us at [phone]. Thank you, [Name] [Company name]
Route or pick-up time change
Subject: A change to your child's bus — starting [date]
Dear Parent or Guardian, Starting [date], [student name]'s bus will change: Route: [old route] → [new route] Morning pick-up: [new time] at [stop] Afternoon drop-off: around [new time] at [stop] [Reason, if you'd like to give one.] Please have your child at the stop five minutes before the new time. If you have questions, call us at [phone]. Thank you, [Name] [Company name]
Bus running late
Subject: Route [number] is running late today
Dear Parent or Guardian, Route [number] is running about [minutes] minutes late this [morning / afternoon] because of [traffic / weather / a mechanical problem]. All students are safe. [A replacement bus is on its way.] We expect to reach [your stop / the school] at about [time]. We're sorry for the inconvenience. For updates, call [phone]. [Company name]
School bus rules
Subject: School bus rules
Dear Parent or Guardian, Please go over these rules with your child. They keep everyone safe. 1. Be at the stop five minutes early, and wait well back from the road. 2. Wait for the bus to stop and the door to open before stepping forward. 3. Cross only in front of the bus, when the driver signals. 4. Stay seated, facing forward, for the whole ride. 5. Keep hands, head and belongings inside the bus. 6. Talk quietly — the driver needs to hear traffic and train crossings. 7. No eating, drinking or throwing anything on the bus. 8. Be respectful to the driver and other students. 9. Follow the driver's instructions the first time. Breaking the rules can lead to [a warning, a call home, loss of bus privileges], following [school / district] policy. Thank you for your help, [Company name]
Bus behavior notice
Subject: About [student name]'s behavior on the bus
Dear Parent or Guardian, On [date], during the [morning / afternoon] run on route [number], [student name] [describe what happened, factually]. This breaks the bus rule: [rule]. [This is a first notice / The next step is …, following (school / district) policy.] Please talk with your child about safe behavior on the bus. If you'd like to discuss it, call [name] at [phone]. Thank you, [Name] [Company name]
Weather delay or closure
Subject: Buses [delayed / cancelled] today, [date]
Dear Parent or Guardian, Because of [snow / ice / severe weather], [school / district] has announced a [delayed opening of (hours) / closure] today, [date]. [Buses will run (hours) later than usual. / There will be no bus service today.] Please keep children safe at the stop and dress them for the weather. For updates, call [phone] or check [website]. [Company name]
Keep parents' numbers with every stop
In FleetCommander each student on a route has their parent's phone number with tap-to-call for the driver, and drivers mark who rode each run.