SDLA Compliance Resource
Update the Home-to-School Transportation Services Plan
Update the applicable transportation services plan by April 1. Check planned access and priorities against the actual service model and funding conditions.
Initial adoption, annual updates and data handoffs
The April 1 update is a state funding condition; annual board readoption and annual reconsultation are not automatically required.
- Initial development requires stakeholder consultation and public board adoption under EC 39800.1. Consult classified staff, teachers, administrators, parents, pupils, regional transit authorities, air-quality agencies and other stakeholders. The original initial-adoption date was April 1, 2023.
- After initial adoption, update by April 1 each year. CDE says annual board readoption is a local decision and annual stakeholder reconsultation is not mandated. Local policy may add steps; label those steps as local. The plan stays locally for the annual audit rather than routine submission to CDE.
- Prioritize TK–6 and low-income pupils, including low-income pupils in grades 7–12. Describe disability/homeless access and how unduplicated pupils obtain available no-cost transportation. Match actual routes/access to the plan.
- Eligible districts and COEs are the reimbursement entities. Charter schools, including districts converted entirely to charters under the applicable exclusion, do not share this program’s reimbursement/plan requirement. Confirm actual apportionment eligibility rather than imposing the plan on every LEA.
- Transportation/data owners supply ridership, miles and demographics through existing fall CBEDS reporting; fiscal staff supply transportation expenditures through ordinary SACS year-end submissions. Reconcile route records, CBEDS totals and Function 3600 costs; do not create a duplicate transportation-plan report or new deadline.
Authority: EC 39800.1 · EC 41850.1 · CDE Transportation FAQs. Reviewed October 21, 2026.
In Plain Language: Update the applicable transportation services plan by April 1. Check planned access and priorities against the actual service model and funding conditions.
Why this matters
Funding eligibility, pupil access and the public plan need to describe the same transportation program.
Primary ownership
Transportation director and fiscal services, with student services and superintendent’s office
Required distinctions and controls
- The initial plan requires governing-board adoption and specified consultation. CDE distinguishes annual updates: board readoption is a local decision, and renewed consultation is not required annually.
- Include required priorities for TK–6 and low-income pupils, access for pupils with disabilities and pupils experiencing homelessness, and no-cost access for unduplicated pupils.
- CDE does not require routine submission of the plan to CDE. Retain it and related evidence for the annual audit. County processing instructions must identify their own local scope.
Recommended LEA workflow
- Confirm receipt of HTSTR reimbursement and identify the applicable LEA, current plan and update owner.
- Compare planned routes, availability, accessibility, priorities and no-cost access with current pupil needs and service records.
- Update the plan for the following year and reconcile the service/fiscal assumptions.
- Complete the annual update by April 1; use local policy to determine board information or readoption.
- Retain the final plan, version history and supporting review for audit and operational follow-through.
Evidence to retain
- Funding-applicability check
- Updated plan and version history
- Access/prioritization review
- Initial adoption/consultation evidence
- Local annual review and audit support
Official guidance and help
Return to the Annual Compliance Calendar
Reviewed October 21, 2026. Confirm the current agency instructions, applicable funding year, recipient scope, local policy and final submitted or approved state before acting. Recommended preparation steps support the named requirement and do not create an additional statewide filing deadline.