SMART tag (Launched on October 15, 2024)
Q: What is SMART tag?
A: SMART tag™ is a full-featured system designed to ensure authorized ridership resulting in increased safety and security of students who utilize school bus transportation. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and cloud-connected tablet computers in each school bus provide accurate, near-real-time information.
Each school bus has a secure on-board tablet that:
Q: Can students ride the bus if they forget their SMART tag ID?
A: Yes, the driver will use their tablet to manually mark the student present and then allow the child to board the bus.
The driver will not leave students unattended at a bus stop if a student forgets or loses their bus pass.
Q: How does my child use SMART tag™?
A: In just three easy steps, the SMART Tag electronic bus transportation system ensures that students get on the right bus and get off at the right stop:
Each bus rider is assigned an RFID bus pass. As students board and depart their bus, they tap the RFID cards onto a card reader. Each time a student taps their ID card on the bus, the bus driver’s on-board tablet helps to validate the student and that he/she is boarding/departing at the correct bus stop.
Q: How does SMART tag benefit the transportation department and school administrators?
A: SMART tag™ not only provides immediate information regarding which bus a student is on, it automates several reporting functions such as headcount, average pick-up and drop-off times, mileage reports, and more. SMART tag™ also provides communication between the transportation department and school bus drivers.
Q: Is student information stored on the RFID bus pass?
A: The student’s name is printed on the front of the SMART tag™. No student information is stored on the card.
RFID cards are safe, secure, and contain a unique identification (UID) number. The UID in the chip is read by the card reader, and the system uses it to reference the student’s name. The latest cloud technology, encryption, and security protocols ensure your child’s information is secure.
Q: Are students required to use their RFID bus pass to ride the bus?
A: Yes, to foster increased student safety and security, plus provide a more efficient process of loading and unloading the bus, RFID bus passes will be required for all riders. If a student does not have their RFID bus pass at the bus stop, the driver will manually log the student in. This is more time-consuming than students tagging in and can delay a route.
Q: Will students receive a new SMART tag every year?
A: Yes.
Q: What information will the bus driver be able to view when the student swipes his/her card?
A: The bus driver can view the student’s name and school photo on the tablet.
Q: Can students get off at another stop?
A: Bus riders must depart at their assigned bus stop(s). If a child needs to get off at a different bus stop along their same assigned bus route, a parent or guardian must e-mail their request to the Transportation Department by 10:00 am. If prior approval was not granted, the bus driver has the right to keep the child on the bus and safely drop them off at their designated bus stop or return them to campus (if applicable) for a parent or guardian to pick them up.
Q: What is SMART tag?
A: SMART tag™ is a full-featured system designed to ensure authorized ridership resulting in increased safety and security of students who utilize school bus transportation. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and cloud-connected tablet computers in each school bus provide accurate, near-real-time information.
Each school bus has a secure on-board tablet that:
- Records when and where students get on and off their bus
- Provides school bus tracking and notifications for school administrators
Q: Can students ride the bus if they forget their SMART tag ID?
A: Yes, the driver will use their tablet to manually mark the student present and then allow the child to board the bus.
The driver will not leave students unattended at a bus stop if a student forgets or loses their bus pass.
Q: How does my child use SMART tag™?
A: In just three easy steps, the SMART Tag electronic bus transportation system ensures that students get on the right bus and get off at the right stop:
Each bus rider is assigned an RFID bus pass. As students board and depart their bus, they tap the RFID cards onto a card reader. Each time a student taps their ID card on the bus, the bus driver’s on-board tablet helps to validate the student and that he/she is boarding/departing at the correct bus stop.
Q: How does SMART tag benefit the transportation department and school administrators?
A: SMART tag™ not only provides immediate information regarding which bus a student is on, it automates several reporting functions such as headcount, average pick-up and drop-off times, mileage reports, and more. SMART tag™ also provides communication between the transportation department and school bus drivers.
Q: Is student information stored on the RFID bus pass?
A: The student’s name is printed on the front of the SMART tag™. No student information is stored on the card.
RFID cards are safe, secure, and contain a unique identification (UID) number. The UID in the chip is read by the card reader, and the system uses it to reference the student’s name. The latest cloud technology, encryption, and security protocols ensure your child’s information is secure.
Q: Are students required to use their RFID bus pass to ride the bus?
A: Yes, to foster increased student safety and security, plus provide a more efficient process of loading and unloading the bus, RFID bus passes will be required for all riders. If a student does not have their RFID bus pass at the bus stop, the driver will manually log the student in. This is more time-consuming than students tagging in and can delay a route.
Q: Will students receive a new SMART tag every year?
A: Yes.
Q: What information will the bus driver be able to view when the student swipes his/her card?
A: The bus driver can view the student’s name and school photo on the tablet.
Q: Can students get off at another stop?
A: Bus riders must depart at their assigned bus stop(s). If a child needs to get off at a different bus stop along their same assigned bus route, a parent or guardian must e-mail their request to the Transportation Department by 10:00 am. If prior approval was not granted, the bus driver has the right to keep the child on the bus and safely drop them off at their designated bus stop or return them to campus (if applicable) for a parent or guardian to pick them up.
