Student transportation in Colorado: FAQ for district transportation leaders
Answers to common questions from Colorado transportation directors, with a link to the official source for every answer. Updated October 2026. State rules change, so confirm details with CDE before you act on them.
How does Colorado count students for funding?
Colorado funds districts through the Public School Finance Act using the Student October count. CDE explains that Student October data is used to calculate the total program funding each district receives. The funded pupil count includes students who meet membership and scheduling requirements as of the count date.
Sources: CDE, pupil count and CDE, school finance general information
How does pupil transportation reimbursement work?
Colorado partially reimburses operating costs for pupil route transportation. Districts file the CDE-40 by the statutory deadline of September 15, and payment arrives in the following fiscal year. The entitlement combines a rate per mile with a share of excess costs. Confirm current rates with the CDE School Finance Unit each year.
Source: CDE, transportation funding
What records support a CDE-40 claim?
Colorado's school transportation fund rules say documentation shall include appropriate mileage reports and route descriptions as of the official mileage count date. Those records should clearly define each route and show its mileage. Route maps, mileage by run and rider counts kept in 1 system make the September filing simpler.
Source: CDE, school transportation fund rules (1 CCR 301-14)
What does Colorado require of school bus drivers?
Under 1 CCR 301-26, drivers hold a commercial license of Class B or higher with school bus and passenger endorsements plus the federal medical examination report. Drivers receive pre-service training on each vehicle type they operate and at least 6 hours of in-service training every year. First aid training that includes CPR is due within 90 days of hire and every 2 years after that.
Source: CDE, school transportation operation rule
How rural is Colorado's student transportation landscape?
CDE's Field Services team supports 146 rural school districts out of the 178 districts funded through the Public School Finance Act. Most Colorado transportation teams plan routes for rural communities. Colorado's Every School Day Matters campaign aims to cut chronic absenteeism rates from pandemic highs in half.
Sources: CDE, Field Services, CDE, school finance general information and CDE, Every School Day Matters
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