Student Transportation
AVRCE provides transportation to eligible students in West Hants, Annapolis County and western Kings County. Our contracted school bus carrier provides student transportation to eligible students in central and eastern Kings County.
During the school year, school offices can often provide information about school bus routes, drivers and more. Any time there is a change to your child's home address or transportation arrangements to and from home, please notify your child's school.
On this page, you can find answers to many frequently-asked student transportation questions, and information about checking your bus information online with the BusPlanner Parent Portal. If you have a student transportation question or concern that isn't covered below, contact AVRCE Transportation at any time of year at (email link) or 902-538-4641 (toll-free 1-800-850-3887).
For information on storm day procedures and school closures due to weather/road conditions, visit www.avrce.ca/storm-daysschool-cancellations.
BusPlanner Parent Portal: Check Your Bus Information Online and Get Bus Notices
Bus Information is available starting August 15th before each new school year. Please check your bus information online before school starts. If you have bus questions, please reach out to our Transportation staff.
What is the BusPlanner Parent Portal?
The BusPlanner Parent Portal allows families to check their child's bus information online, including bus route, bus stop times, and bus stop location. When you log in to your BusPlanner Parent Portal account, you can also choose to receive text or email notices about your child’s bus route, including late bus notices.
How to Access the BusPlanner Parent Portal
Go to https://avrce.mybusplanner.ca/ and select the "Parent Portal" link/icon.
- - If you have not activated a BusPlanner Parent Portal account in AVRCE before, contact AVRCE's Transportation Division at (email link) or 902-538-4641 to request an account activation email.
- - When you receive a BusPlanner account activation email, click on the link in the email and follow the on-screen instructions to set your password. For step-by-step instructions with pictures, visit www.avrce.ca/activate-busplanner-account
- - When you receive a BusPlanner account activation email, click on the link in the email and follow the on-screen instructions to set your password. For step-by-step instructions with pictures, visit www.avrce.ca/activate-busplanner-account
- - If you have activated a BusPlanner Parent Portal Account in AVRCE since August 2022 or later, you can log in to the BusPlanner Parent Portal anytime. Go to https://avrce.mybusplanner.ca/ and click on "Parent Portal" to get started.
How to Get Text and Email Notices for Late Bus or Route Changes
Log in to your BusPlanner Parent Portal account and click on "My Account" to set your text/email notice preferences. These notices will let you know if your child's bus is running late or if there have been changes to the route.
- - You can also get late bus notices on the BusPlanner Delays app, available for free wherever you access apps for your mobile device.
Please note:
- - We continue to use SchoolMessenger to send emails and texts to parents/guardians for school cancellations, unplanned early dismissals, general information, newsletters, etc. Parents/guardians can opt in to receive SchoolMessenger texts by texting Y to 978338 to start receiving text messages. Your mobile number must be on file at your child’s school to receive SchoolMessenger text messages.
- - BusPlanner Parent Portal is not connected to the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
- - Privacy notice: Your BusPlanner Parent Portal account will show parent/guardian address information that you have provided to your child's school and/or AVRCE Transportation. Any parent/guardian contacts you have provided to your child's school may be able to view this address information if they activate a BusPlanner Parent Portal account. Please contact AVRCE Transportation if you have any questions or concerns.
Student Transportation Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out my child's bus schedule information?
You can check your child’s school bus information anytime using the BusPlanner Web Parent Portal. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office at your child’s school, or the AVRCE Transportation Division by emailing (email link) or calling 902-538-4641 or 1-800-850-3887.
How far do I have to live from the school to be eligible for school bus transportation?
Under the Education Act, students will be transported if they live a distance greater than 3.6 km from the school. Students who live within a 1 km radius of the school will be expected to walk.
Which schools does AVRCE provide busing for? Which schools have busing through a contracted service provider?
School bus service in central and eastern Kings County is provided by a private contractor. AVRCE provides school bus service in Annapolis County, the West Hants area, and the West Kings Family of Schools. This page has a list of schools for which AVRCE provides busing.
If I have a question about transportation eligibility, who do I call?
Transportation is provided to and from one stop per child. Contact your local school or the Transportation Division by emailing (email link) or calling 902-538-4641 or 1-800-850-3887.
If I do not meet the eligibility criteria noted above, is there any other way my child can travel on a regional centre operated school bus?
If there is room on a bus that travels to or from your child's school, it is possible to have this service extended to you. Bus routes, times and stops are not altered for the purpose of transporting courtesy students.
Who would I contact if I have a question or concern about the Transportation Policy?
For questions or concerns about our Transportation Policy, please contact the Transportation Division by emailing (email link) or calling 902-538-4641 or 1-800-850-3887.
What is the policy to have a stop added and who do I call?
In order to establish a bus stop, there can be no more than three stops in 1.6 kms with the stops being no closer than 200 meters from one another. Please call 902-538-4641 or email (email link).
How do I arrange transportation for my child with special needs?
The school administration will complete a form requesting special transportation for your child. The form asks for detailed information relating to you child's needs. This information is then directed through the Transportation Division in order to initiate transportation.
If I my child received permission to transfer to a school other than the one serving our home address, is transportation provided?
Transportation is not provided in this situation. Parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their child to the school or the nearest bus stop serving the school, as a courtesy student.
Does the regional centre provide transportation if a student has a temporary injury that affects their mobility?
It is a parent/guardian's responsiblity to arrange transportation in this situation. If a parent/guardian has no means of transportation, Transportation Division staff will assist where possible.
