For now, summer is in full swing, with barbeques, popsicles, and sunny afternoons by the pool. Before we know it, however, Canyons District schools will hum with a back-to-school buzz – and yellow school buses will be a familiar sight in neighborhoods.

Parents are encouraged to be prepared for the Monday, Aug. 19 first day of school for first- through 12^th-grade students and the Wednesday, Aug. 22 start-day for kindergarten and preschool students by taking a minute to review 2019-2020 transportation plans for students who attend Canyons schools in Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Midvale, Sandy and the towns of Alta and Brighton.  

Updated information about pick-up and drop-off locations can be easily accessed on the Canyons District website. Click here for the e-tool the public can use to find out more about eligibility and the established stops for Canyons buses. 

In addition, parents are urged to note a Utah law governing transportation funding that may affect some Canyons District middle school students. 

Canyons receives funding for busing provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade who live at least 1 ½ miles from school and students enrolled in grades seven through 12 who live at least 2 miles from school.

This means that some middle school students who qualified for busing last year may not qualify again this year because they have advanced to the seventh-grade and must live more than 2 miles away from the school to receive the services.

Canyons has created a “space-available” permit program to help many students who no longer qualify for busing services. Non-qualifying students may submit a request for transportation services so they can ride with their qualifying siblings or neighbors – if there is space on the bus.  The space-available permits are granted on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. 

The permit-request forms will be made available to the public at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5.  The forms can be accessed at all Canyons District schools and must be submitted at the school where your child attends.  

During the first few weeks of the school year, transportation services will not be provided to secondary students who live within a 2-mile radius of their schools, even if they have submitted a space-available permit request.  The CSD administration realizes this may be an inconvenience for some families, but the CSD Transportation Department needs the time to verify the numbers of students who, according to state law, are guaranteed a spot on the bus. 

Families of students who are granted a space-available permit will be notified by Sept. 16. 

Questions?  Please call Canyons District at 801-826-5000 or send an e-mail message to communications@canyonsdistrict.org, A representative will be prepared to help you with your questions.