Getting Students to School
You can register your child for yellow school bus transportation online using your MyCBE or completing a transportation registration form.
Please visit the CBE website to find more information on fees and service levels for the 2025-2026 school year.
Yellow school bus registrations can be cancelled by Sept. 30 with no financial penalty. Cancellation forms must be completed before a pro-rated refund can be considered. No refunds will be processed for service cancelled after Apr. 30, or for individual trip delays.
Bus Status
Parents/guardians can view the bus status online:
- Southland: MyBusStop App or My School Bus Monitor.
- First Student: First Student Calgary Bus Status.
We are aware of the communication challenges the providers are having keeping route information up-to-date for families. At this time, all service provider staff are dedicated to driving buses and they are not always able to accommodate this service.
Visit CBE Transportation for forms and more information.
Conditional Riders
Students who are not attending the designated school for their program, or who are not within the transportation service area, may be able to access existing service if there is a suitable stop on the existing bus route. Fees will not be waived for conditional riders.
Criteria for Conditional Riders
- Must access an existing stop
- Must be room on the bus
- Must pay the transportation fee
- No additional bus routes will be implemented to accommodate conditional riders
- Must wait for written approval from Transportation Services before starting to ride the bus
Conditional riders are not permitted to ride the bus until it is determined there is space on the bus and riders have been approved by Transportation Services.
Alternate Addresses
We've heard from families that they would like more flexibility to access bus stops and routes to support childcare arrangements and changing family schedules. This year, CBE Transportation will allow families to add a second address to their transportation registration to have access to two bus stops and/or routes.
Note | All addresses must be within the attendance area for the school and outside the walk zone. Maps can be found on the school profile on the CBE website. The information collected from parents informs bus route planning, but does not guarantee a stop at the exact location requested.
To participate in the program, you must:
- Pre-register for transportation in MyCBE by the June 20, 2025 deadline.
- Fill in the Request for Alternate Address form in MyCBE and provide one additional address and schedule for your child. Note: the form will only appear after you register.
CBE Transportation will review each request to determine if the request can be accommodated. Families will be notified of the decision within six weeks of application. If it is approved, the second address will be used as we are creating new bus routes.
Please visit the CBE website to find more information on fees and service levels for the 2025-2026 school year.
School Bus Safety at the CBE
School bus loading zones provide a safe area for students to embark and disembark the buses. Please do not drive into the school bus loading zone when you pick up or drop off your child.
Help teach your child to safely cross the street around school buses. Children should:
- Stand back a safe distance from the bus
- Wait until the bus leaves the stop
- Walk to the closest intersection
- Cross the street only when they have a clear view of traffic in both directions and it is safe to do so
The CBE and school bus carriers want to ensure your child's safety and make their experience on the bus a positive one.
School Bus Rules and Expectations
Students are expected to display good citizenship at all times on the school bus. Responsible behavior is expected and students are asked to follow the driver’s directions at all times. A copy of the bus rules will be made available to all bus riders at the start of the school year. Safety of our students is our primary concern. Students who do not comply with the rules of the bus will be given a misconduct and parents will be notified. A misconduct form may result in a suspension from riding the bus. The length of the suspension will depend on the circumstances. Students who are suspended from the bus temporarily are still responsible for attending school punctually each day.
Students approved for CBE transportation receive a ZPass to ride a yellow school bus, issued by Transportation Services and distributed by schools. The ZPass only has your child’s CBE ID number, for reasons of privacy and security. Please do not add personal identifying information.
Zpass Information for the Yellow Bus
- Students scan their ZPass through an electronic card reader installed on the bus every time they get on and off the bus.
- If a student forgets a ZPass, he or she should notify the driver. They will still be able to ride the bus.
- If a student loses a ZPass, parents are required to request a replacement pass through the school. The school will send the request to Transportation Services. A new ZPass will be printed and sent to the school.
- ZPass transaction data is logged and transmitted to a secure, confidential database accessible by authorized personnel only. This data is used for the following:
- to assist in emergency and lost student situations
- to expedite distribution of information regarding service cancellations and delays
- to provide more accurate ridership counts, enabling Transportation Services to more efficiently develop future schedules and stops
Calgary Transit
Some students use Calgary Transit to get to school. Families are responsible for purchasing Calgary Transit monthly passes. Students must carry proof of fare every time they use Calgary Transit. More information about fares and routes are available on the CBE website or the Calgary Transit website.
Families can access low-income monthly passes through the City of Calgary's Fair Entry Program. This program offers a streamlined application process for City subsidy programs, including reduced rates for transit passes. You can find more information about the program at www.calgary.ca/fairentry.
Calgary Transit has a “Plan a Trip” tool or families can also call 403-262-1000 for assistance with route planning and questions about Calgary Transit operations. Families do not need to register to use Calgary Transit, including school express routes.