Transportation, new laws and more: What to know for JCPS' first day of school

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thousands of Jefferson County Public Schools students will head back to class Thursday for the 2025-26 school year.

With a few new laws going into place this year that will impact students, new cellphone policies and a new superintendent, here's what to know before sending your children back to class.

Transportation

485-RIDE helpline

JCPS opened the bus stop helpline and Bus Teller website Monday, July 28.

Families can call 485-RIDE (7433) from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays through the first few days of school. Staff will be on standby to answer bus and transportation questions starting July 28. Hours the line is open could be adjusted based on demand and call volume.

Bus Teller

Families can also find their child's bus stop information, estimated pick-up and drop-off times, and bus number on Bus Teller through the JCPS Transportation Portal online.

The district said bus stop information will be uploaded and updated daily, so families are encouraged to check the Bus Teller frequently leading up to the first day of school and throughout the first few weeks as routes could change.

Transportation Verification

Families had to complete the Transportation Verification Form by June 13 to guarantee bus stops for the year.

JCPS said families who missed that deadline may not have a bus by Thursday, but are encouraged to keep checking the Bus Teller as routers keep processing requests. The June 13 deadline guaranteed a bus stop for the first week of school.

Transportation services are in a "freeze period" through Aug. 18, the district said, which is when new stops will start being processed. Bus stops can't be guaranteed for those who fill out the form between July 21 and Aug. 18.

Families eligible for transportation who haven't submitted the form yet are encouraged to do so as soon as possible through the Transportation Portal. JCPS said "all families must complete this form to indicate their child's transportation plan."

To access the Transportation Portal, click here.

Track your child's bus

Starting Aug. 7, parents can use the Edulog phone app to track their child's bus in real-time as it approaches their stop.

Families who haven't downloaded the app are encouraged to do so, and enter the district registration code 98295545 under the "DISTRICT" tab by tapping the plus (+) sign, the district said.

Once registered, you'll be able to tap on the district's name and toggle on the bus numbers you want to track. Those will then show up under "MY BUSES" on the app.

For more information and links to download the app on your smartphone or tablet, click here.

Magnet school bus stipends, budget cuts

JCPS said stipend payments for families who transport their magnet school students are not available this school year.

The district approved a tentative budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year in May that cut spending by nearly $100 million. Those cuts include $12 million budgeted for transportation stipends that were offered last school year.

The stipends helped families who drove their students to school after the district scaled back busing to magnet and traditional schools.

Approximately 17,000 students were eligible for the stipends after the district cut transportation for many magnet and traditional schools and those who attend Academies of Louisville.

Families received $5 per day or $10 per day to take their kids to school if they qualify for free or reduced lunch.

At the time, JCPS said the cuts were due, in part, to the loss of more than $500 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding that had supported salaries, programming and transportation.

Other significant cuts include:

Delaying renovations to athletic facilities at six high schools — Atherton, Butler, Eastern, Southern, Valley, and Fairdale — which is expected to save $8.5 million.
Postponing the purchase of new buses, saving $1.6 million.
Reducing contracts with outside organizations, including a drop in funding to the Louisville Urban League from $6 million to $1 million.

To read more about those cuts, click here.

New communication platform to comply with state law

A new law restricting student-teacher communication will be in place at the start of this school year.

Senate Bill 181 sets guidelines for electronic communication between people who work for school districts and students. It requires all school staff, coaches, and volunteers to use traceable communication when they need to talk to a student.

Direct communication between staff, including paid and volunteer coaches, and students will no longer be permitted. Text messages and certain group messaging apps can no longer be used.

Starting Aug. 1, JCPS is using a new communication platform called Rooms. The district said many of its schools will be using the platform, which can be accessed through the JCPS mobile app, making it easier for parents and guardians to connect with teachers.

Families were sent sign-up information June 28 via email and a text message. Once signed up, families can use the JCPS, KY app to communicate. Rooms can also be accessed through desktop at edurooms.com.

To download the JCPS app on your devices, click here.

To read more about the law and its implementation, click here.

Cellphone ban for all schools

JCPS students are now prohibited from using their cellphones during school hours. In May, the Jefferson County Board of Education approved a policy banning the use of cellphones at schools, including during lunch and transitional periods, starting this school year.

The only exception to the rule is an emergency. JCPS said each school is creating its own policy to help parents and guardians get messages to their students, and will have more information for families.

Vaccines

Kentucky students are required to have an immunization certificate on file with their school by the second week of class, JCPS said.

JCPS Health Services offers appointments for free vaccinations for children who aren't up-to-date on their vaccines and don't have insurance or a health care provider.

The district stressed the importance of vaccines this school year after a Louisville child contracted measles. Leaders with JCPS Health Services said about 9,100 students—about 10% of enrolled students—were not fully vaccinated with the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine last school year.

Appointments are offered weekdays at two locations — the C.B. Young Building on Crittenden Drive and the South Central Neighborhood Place on Hazelwood Avenue.

To check a student's immunization status or to make an appointment for vaccines, call JCPS Health Services at (502) 485-3387.

To learn more, click here. For links related to JCPS Health Services, click here.

For information about the first day of school and what you can do to be prepared, click here for the district's first day dashboard.

More Back to School Coverage:

Kentuckiana's back-to-school guide for 2025-26 school year

JCPS focused on back-to-school with full bus driver staff, facility upgrades

What’s new in Kentucky classrooms? 6 laws to know before your kids head back to school

Louisville teachers put finishing touches on classrooms, preparing for 1st day of school

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Cellphones banned in Kentucky classrooms, districts will set their own policies

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