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Pay-to-Ride

What is Pay-To-Ride?

State law requires school districts to provide transportation to elementary and middle school students living two or more miles from their attendance centers, and to high school students living three or more miles from their high school (AHS and ACHS). Pay-To-Ride transportation services are for those students who do not qualify for transportation under the state code. If you are unsure if your address qualifies for free transportation, please use the address lookup tool on the district website.

July 1 – July 18: Open Request

Interested families will submit a request for Pay-To-Ride via the online TouchBase system. This request does not guarantee Pay-To-Ride eligibility. Instead, the request process allows for the District and First Student to determine if space is available for students requesting Pay-To-Ride on the bus routes established for the new school year. New bus routes will not be added. Students who Pay-To-Ride will be added to already established bus routes.

REQUEST FOR PAY-TO-RIDE 

If you are unable to access TouchBase from your home, please contact the Ankeny Schools District Office at 515-965-9600 to set up an appointment to complete the application at the District Office – 306 SW School Street.

July 19 – July 28: Feasibility Processing and Communication

First Student will determine the feasibility for each request, based on capacity of established routes and timing of established routes. First Student will communicate the feasibility for each student to families by the end of the day on August 3. For students who are added for Pay-To-Ride, transportation will be added to Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.

Students will be assessed a fee of $490.00 for round-trip or $245.00 for one-way transportation for the 2022-2023 school year. The fee will be assessed based on the information completed by the parent/guardian in the Pay-To-Ride  request form, and once First Student confirms the route the fee cannot be changed.  Pay-To-Ride fees will follow a similar refund schedule as the annual Textbook Rental:

  1. Student enters at beginning of year and rides all year.  Charge full amount/no refund.
  2. Student enters at beginning of year and leaves anytime in first semester.  Charge full amount/refund 50%.
  3. Student enters at beginning of year and leaves anytime in second semester.  Charge full amount/no refund.
  4. Student enters anytime first semester charge 100%.
  5. Student enters anytime second semester charge 50%.

An email will be generated from noreply@intouchreceipting.com for payment due upon receipt.

Accounts will be billed for the amount equal to the request, either one way or round trip.  Payments can be made online, at the district office, and at any school building.  Checks may also be mailed to 306 SW School St., Ankeny IA  50023.

Please note – if a student has an outstanding balance in their TouchBase account, they will be unable to complete the open request process.  If the fee is not paid within six weeks of the start of ridership, the student will no longer be eligible for Pay-To-Ride.