School District Letter Request - Free Student Transportation Study for Criminal Gang Activity Safety Hazards

Oct 10, 2026

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School district notice explains a 2018 Illinois law that may allow free student transportation when children must walk within 1.5 miles and the walking route falls within areas showing criminal gang activity. Criminal gang activity is defined through specific gang-related offenses occurring within set time windows or through criminal property defacement intended to identify a street gang. Families who believe a serious safety hazard exists are asked to submit a formal request so the district, local law enforcement, and the Illinois State Board of Education can verify conditions, conduct a study, and determine whether bus route changes or new pick-up points are needed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatDOCX

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Free transportation under 2018 law

Definition of criminal gang activity

When parents should submit a request

Verification and study by district and authorities

Possible outcomes: route changes or pick-up points

[SCHOOL DISTRICT LETTERHEAD] Dear Parent/Guardian: A new law enacted on Nov. 30, 2018, allows school districts to provide free transportation for students who reside within 1.5 miles of school and walk, either to or from school or to or from a pickup point or bus stop, through areas with a course or pattern of criminal gang activity. Criminal gang activity under the new law means two or more gang-related criminal offenses if at least one offense occurred after January 25, 2013, both offenses were committed within 5 years of each other or an act of criminal defacement of property if it includes a sign or other symbol intended to identify the street gang. If you believe your child may walk along normally traveled roads where a serious safety hazard due to criminal gang activity as defined under this law exists, please complete and return the request below for the school district to conduct a study of those roads. The school district, local law enforcement, and the Illinois State Board of Education must verify that the criminal gang activity hazard exists. If a hazard is determined and approved, school districts have the option of altering bus routes or creating new pick-up points so that children can be transported to school safely. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring the safety of all our students. Sincerely, [NAME] The following request may be completed and submitted to [EMAIL and/or MAILING ADDRESS]. Dear Superintendent and School Board, My name is [FULL NAME OF PARENT/GUARDIAN] and our home address is [FULL ADDRESS]. My child(ren) [FULL NAME(S) OF CHILD(REN)] attend and walk to [NAME(S) OF SCHOOL(S)]. Adequate public transportation does not exist for my child(ren). Please consider this letter as a formal request that the normally traveled roads or streets that my child(ren) walk are subject to criminal gang activity as defined by Section 10 of the Illinois Street Gang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act and guidelines developed by the State Board of Education and law enforcement. Please conduct a study and make findings to determine if a serious safety hazard due to a course or pattern of criminal activity exists for my child(ren). I understand that if a determination is made that a hazard exists, the district is not obligated to provide transportation for my child(ren). However, if transportation will be provided, please contact me at [PHONE OR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR PARENT/GUARDIAN]. Sincerely, [PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME]

FAQs

What does the 2018 Illinois law allow school districts to do for eligible students?

It allows school districts to provide free transportation for students who live within 1.5 miles and walk to or from school or to a pickup point or bus stop in certain areas with criminal gang activity hazards.

How is “criminal gang activity” defined in the notice?

It includes two or more gang-related criminal offenses with at least one occurring after January 25, 2013 and committed within five years of each other, or criminal property defacement intended to identify a street gang.

What happens after a parent submits the request and a hazard is verified?

The district, local law enforcement, and the Illinois State Board of Education must verify the hazard. If approved, the district may alter bus routes or create new pickup points; providing transportation remains optional for the district.

Oct 10, 2026

Upload by jayni