Policies • Terms of Service • Safety Standards
“Joy For The Journey”
Shining Star Student Shuttle
Premium, Private & Professional Student Transportation
“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
Joy For The Journey
Our Commitment To Your Family
At Shining Star Student Shuttle, transportation is more than getting a student from one destination to another. We understand that families are entrusting us with someone incredibly precious.
Our goal is to provide dependable, professional and caring student transportation while creating a warm and welcoming experience for every child we serve. From the first friendly face of the day to the final destination, we strive to provide consistency, comfort and care on every journey.
Safety First
Safety Standards
The safety and well-being of our students are at the heart of our service.
Safe Pick-Up & Drop-Off
- Students will be picked up and dropped off only at locations approved by the parent or legal guardian and accepted by Shining Star Student Shuttle.
- Parents/guardians are responsible for providing accurate addresses, school information, schedules and authorized drop-off instructions.
- Any permanent change to a student’s approved transportation arrangements must be communicated directly to and approved by Shining Star Student Shuttle before the changed transportation is provided.
Student Release & Authorized Adults
- Younger students will not knowingly be left in an unsafe or unauthorized situation.
- When required by the family’s transportation arrangement, a parent, guardian or other authorized adult must be available to receive the student.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING ALL AUTHORIZED ADULTS DURING REGISTRATION AND FOR PROMPTLY COMMUNICATING ANY CHANGES TO SHINING STAR STUDENT SHUTTLE.
FOR STUDENT SAFETY, SHINING STAR STUDENT SHUTTLE WILL NOT KNOWINGLY RELEASE A STUDENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN AUTHORIZED ADULT BY THE PARENT/GUARDIAN.
Seat Belts & Safe Riding
- Every passenger must use an available seat belt or appropriate restraint as required by applicable law.
- Students are expected to remain properly seated while the vehicle is moving and follow the driver’s reasonable safety instructions.
- Behavior that could distract the driver or interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle is prohibited.
Vehicle Safety
- Shining Star Student Shuttle is committed to maintaining a clean, comfortable and appropriately maintained vehicle for student transportation.
- Routine maintenance and safety checks will be performed in accordance with applicable requirements and manufacturer recommendations.
No Unauthorized Stops
- Drivers will follow approved routes and transportation arrangements.
- Unscheduled personal stops or transportation of unauthorized passengers are not permitted.
- Necessary route changes may occur because of traffic, accidents, road closures, emergencies, weather, school-related changes or other circumstances affecting safe transportation.
Communication
- Clear communication between Shining Star Student Shuttle and our families is essential. Parents and guardians should promptly communicate changes involving pick-up or drop-off locations, school dismissal times, early-release days, extracurricular activities, student absences, authorized adults, emergency contact information, or other information reasonably necessary for safe transportation.
- For safety reasons, drivers may not respond to calls or text messages while actively driving.
Respect On Every Ride
Student Conduct & Behavior Standards
We want every student to enjoy a comfortable, respectful, safe and positive journey while riding with Shining Star Student Shuttle. All students are expected to demonstrate respectful and age-appropriate behavior toward the driver and fellow passengers.
Students are expected to:
- Treat the driver and other students with kindness and respect
- Wear required seat belts or restraints
- Follow reasonable safety instructions from the driver
- Keep conversations and interactions appropriate for a shared student transportation environment
- Refrain from throwing objects or engaging in behavior that could distract the driver or compromise safety
- Remain properly seated while the vehicle is moving
- Keep hands, feet and personal belongings to themselves
- Respect the vehicle and the personal belongings of others
- Refrain from fighting, threatening, intimidating, teasing or harassing another student
ZERO-TOLERANCE BEHAVIOR — INAPPROPRIATE CONVERSATIONS, BULLYING, PROFANITY, THREATENING OR HARASSING LANGUAGE, FIGHTING, AND OTHER SERIOUSLY DISRUPTIVE OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
This standard applies to students’ verbal and physical interactions while using Shining Star Student Shuttle services. Parents/guardians are expected to discuss these behavioral expectations with their student(s) before transportation begins.
If a behavioral concern occurs, Shining Star Student Shuttle reserves the right to notify the parent/guardian and take appropriate action based on the nature and severity of the conduct. Serious behavior that creates an immediate safety concern may result in immediate suspension of transportation services. Repeated or significant violations may result in suspension or termination of transportation services.
The safety, dignity and well-being of every student matter. Shining Star Student Shuttle is committed to maintaining a respectful transportation environment where students can enjoy a little “Joy For The Journey.”
How We Operate
Service Policies
Reservations & Enrollment
- Transportation is provided based upon route availability, scheduling capacity and acceptance of the family’s transportation request.
- Submitting an application or inquiry does not guarantee a seat or transportation service.
- A student’s transportation arrangement is confirmed only after Shining Star Student Shuttle has approved the requested route and schedule and any required registration and payment arrangements have been completed.
Scheduling
- Families are responsible for providing accurate school calendars, dismissal times and activity schedules.
- Parents/guardians should notify Shining Star Student Shuttle as early as possible when transportation will not be needed or when a student’s schedule changes.
- Last-minute changes are subject to availability and cannot always be accommodated.
Pick-Up Readiness
- Students should be ready at their designated pick-up time.
- Because one delayed pick-up can affect other students and families, drivers may not be able to wait beyond the established waiting period communicated to the family.
Delays
- We work diligently to provide reliable and timely transportation. However, exact arrival times cannot be guaranteed.
- Transportation may be affected by circumstances outside our reasonable control, including traffic congestion, accidents, road closures, construction, school dismissal delays, severe weather, mechanical emergencies, law-enforcement activity, or other unforeseen circumstances.
- When reasonably possible, families will be notified of significant delays.
Rates & Payments
Payments, Cancellations & No-Refund Policy
Rates may vary based on route, distance, frequency, scheduling requirements and requested transportation services. Applicable rates and payment schedules will be communicated to the parent or legal guardian before transportation services begin.
Reserved Seat & Route Commitment
When a family enrolls a student and submits payment, Shining Star Student Shuttle reserves transportation capacity, route space and scheduling availability specifically for that student. Because that space may no longer be available to another family once it has been reserved:
ALL PAYMENTS ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE.
No-Refund Policy
No refund will be issued when a scheduled ride is available but the student does not use it. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Student absences or missed rides
- Medical, dental or other appointments
- A parent or guardian choosing to provide alternate transportation
- Voluntary withdrawal or discontinuation of service after payment
- Changes to extracurricular activities
- Family vacations or personal travel
- Changes in a family’s personal schedule
- Failure to be ready at the scheduled pick-up time
- Unused transportation days or rides
- Other family scheduling changes
A student’s absence does not create a credit, refund or reduction in the family’s transportation fee because the student’s seat and route capacity were reserved for that service period.
When Shining Star Cannot Provide A Scheduled Ride
If Shining Star Student Shuttle is unable to provide a scheduled transportation service, the situation will be handled separately from a family cancellation, missed ride or student absence. Depending upon the circumstances, Shining Star Student Shuttle may provide a service credit, rescheduled service, prorated adjustment or refund for the affected service. This provision does not guarantee that every delay, route modification, school closure, weather event or circumstance outside Shining Star Student Shuttle’s reasonable control will qualify for a refund.
Severe Weather, Emergencies & Conditions Beyond Our Control
Student safety comes first. Transportation may be delayed, modified, suspended or cancelled because of severe weather, unsafe road conditions, accidents, road closures, school closures, governmental actions, emergencies or other circumstances outside the reasonable control of Shining Star Student Shuttle. Any credit, rescheduling arrangement or financial adjustment will be determined based upon the circumstances.
Changes Or Withdrawal From Service
Families should provide as much advance notice as possible when requesting a permanent transportation change or withdrawing a student from service. Stopping or changing service does not entitle the family to a refund of payments already made because transportation capacity has been reserved specifically for the student. Any new route, school, address, pick-up/drop-off location or schedule is subject to availability and may result in a rate adjustment.
Non-Transferable Payments & Reserved Transportation
ALL PAYMENTS, RESERVATIONS AND RESERVED TRANSPORTATION SPACES ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.
Payments and transportation spaces are reserved exclusively for the student(s) identified in the family’s service agreement and may not be transferred, reassigned, credited or applied to another student, sibling, family, account, route or future enrollment. Each student requiring transportation must be separately enrolled and approved by Shining Star Student Shuttle in accordance with current availability, rates, routes and enrollment requirements.
NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE NON-TRANSFERABILITY POLICY WILL BE MADE.
Changes To Transportation
Transportation requests are approved based on the information originally provided by the family. Changes to schools, addresses, schedules, activities, pick-up locations or drop-off locations may affect route availability and pricing and therefore require prior approval from Shining Star Student Shuttle.
When It Matters Most
Emergency Situations
If a student experiences an apparent medical or safety emergency during transportation, Shining Star Student Shuttle may contact 911 or other appropriate emergency services when reasonably necessary. Reasonable efforts will also be made to contact the student’s parent/guardian and/or designated emergency contact.
Parents/guardians are responsible for providing current emergency contact information and information reasonably necessary for the safe transportation of their student.
Personal Belongings
Students are responsible for their backpacks, electronics, clothing, school supplies and other personal belongings. Families are encouraged to clearly label important belongings whenever possible.
Privacy & Student Information
Information provided by parents and guardians will be used primarily for legitimate transportation and business purposes, including:
- Scheduling
- Route planning
- Parent/guardian communication
- Billing
- Emergency response
- Student safety
- Administration of transportation services
Student and family information will not knowingly be publicly shared except with authorization or when disclosure is reasonably necessary to provide the service or comply with applicable law. Photographs, testimonials or identifying student information should not be used for promotional purposes without appropriate parent or guardian permission.
Service Suspension Or Termination
Shining Star Student Shuttle reserves the right to suspend or discontinue service when reasonably necessary because of:
- Serious or repeated safety violations
- Bullying, fighting, threats or harassment
- Threatening or abusive conduct toward the driver or other students
- Unresolved payment obligations
- Behavior that creates a safety risk
- Inappropriate or seriously disruptive conduct
- Repeated failure to comply with transportation policies
- Circumstances that prevent transportation from being provided safely
When circumstances permit, reasonable notice will be provided to the parent or guardian. Conduct that creates an immediate or serious threat to the driver, another student or the safe operation of the vehicle may result in immediate suspension or termination of transportation services.
Our “Joy For The Journey” Promise
Every school day begins a new journey. At Shining Star Student Shuttle, we want our students to enter the vehicle knowing they are welcomed, seen and safe. We strive to provide families with professional transportation built upon consistency, communication and care — and to give every student a little more:
“Joy For The Journey”
Let’s Get Your Student Ready To Ride
Parent/Guardian Agreement & Electronic Signature
Required Parent/Guardian Acknowledgments
At Shining Star Student Shuttle, we value the trust families place in us. By completing and electronically signing this application, you confirm that you are the student's parent, legal guardian, or an individual legally authorized to arrange transportation for the student.
Parent/Guardian Electronic Signature & Consent
By entering your name below and submitting this application, you intend your electronic signature to serve as your signature on this Parent/Guardian Agreement. You acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review the Policies, Terms of Service, Safety Standards, Student Conduct & Behavior Standards, Authorized Adult & Student Release Policy, Emergency Authorization, Cancellation & No-Refund Policy and Non-Transferability Policy before submitting. Submitting an application does not guarantee enrollment, route availability or acceptance for transportation services.
Student Acknowledgment & Signature
At Shining Star Student Shuttle, every student deserves to feel welcomed, seen and safe. As a student riding with Shining Star Student Shuttle, I understand that my choices and behavior help create a safe and positive environment for everyone in the vehicle.
Your acknowledgments, electronic signature(s), the exact policy version presented, and the date and time of acceptance are securely recorded with your application.