Scan. Track. Peace of Mind.
They open the car door and skip off to the school bus as it comes to a stop, but just before they head up the stairs...your son or daughter turns around for one last wave and smile. After watching the bus take off down the road, you put your car in drive and go on about the rest of your morning knowing your student is safe and sound on their way to school.
But you never really know exactly when your student gets to school. You know they get there because it's 10:00 am now and you haven't gotten any news to the contrary, but what if you could know the moment they step off the bus at school?
KCS Bus Tags
This year, KCS is excited to give parents/guardians that piece of mind with the ability to track their student's bus and not only see when the bus gets to the school...but also verify when their student gets off the bus. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, KCS students in pre-K through third grade will be required to scan a student tag each time they get on and off the school bus. Scanning is optional for students in fourth grade and above.
The tags work directly with the Where’s the Bus app. When a student scans, parents and guardians using the app will receive a push notification showing that their child scanned on or off the bus. That means families will have more than a bus location on a map.
They will also be able to know when their student actually scans onto the bus in the morning and off the bus in the afternoon, adding another layer of student safety and some valuable peace of mind for the adults waiting at home.
Three Types of Student Bus Tags
KCS will use three different types of tags based on the student’s grade level:
Pre-K Tags:
Pre-K students will receive orange tags directly from the bus garage when they complete their required pre-K transportation orientation. These tags will not be distributed through schools.
Kindergarten–Third Grade Tags
These tags include a QR code and display the student’s grade prominently. The grade serves as a visual reminder to the bus driver that an adult must be present when the student gets off the bus.
Fourth Grade and Above Tags
These tags feature a larger QR code for scanning. Students in fourth and fifth grades do not need an adult present at the bus stop.
What Info is on the QR Code?
The QR code does not contain the student’s name, address or other personal information. It contains only the student’s identification number. That ID number allows the transportation system to connect the scan to the correct student so the parent or guardian can receive the notification through the Where’s the Bus app.
This is a Tag not a Ticket to Ride
A student will not be refused a ride or left standing on the side of the road because a tag was forgotten, misplaced or lost. The student will still be allowed to ride the bus.
However, if the student does not scan a tag, the Where’s the Bus app cannot notify the parent or guardian that the student got on or off the bus.
If, or more realistically, when a tag disappears, the student’s school can print a new one.
Families can learn more about student bus tags and find instructions for downloading and setting up the Where’s the Bus app on the KCS Back-to-School Hub.