School transportation; application for reimbursement of school transportation costs

The necessary transport for pupils on their way to school is organized and provided by the school transport authorities. They are also responsible for reimbursing the costs.

The necessary school transport for pupils attending

• public primary, secondary and special schools
• public or state-recognized private secondary schools, grammar schools, vocational schools (excluding part-time vocational schools), two-tier business schools and three- or four-tier business schools up to and including year 10
• public or state-recognized vocational schools with full-time teaching
• public or state-recognized secondary schools, grammar schools, vocational schools, vocational schools - excluding part-time vocational schools -, business schools, technical colleges and vocational colleges that are dependent on transportation due to a permanent disability,

must be ensured by the responsible body. In the case of public primary, secondary and special schools, the responsible body is the school expenditure provider, otherwise the districts and independent cities in which the pupil has their habitual residence.

Transportation to regular compulsory and elective classes at the nearest school is necessary if the journey to school is longer than 2 km for pupils in grades 1 to 4 and longer than 3 km for pupils in grade 5 and above. For compulsory schools, the nearest school is usually the Sprengelschule, for other schools the school of the chosen type of school, training and subject that can be reached with the lowest transportation costs.

Exceptions: Pupils who are dependent on transportation due to a permanent disability are transported free of charge regardless of the distance. Transport may also be provided for school journeys of less than these mileage limits if the transport provider has checked that the journey to school is particularly difficult or particularly dangerous.

Pupils in year 11 and above at public and state-recognized private

• grammar schools
• Vocational schools (excluding part-time vocational schools)
• business schools
• technical colleges
• Vocational colleges
• Part-time vocational schools

are not entitled to transportation, but are entitled to reimbursement of school travel costs that exceed a personal contribution of 320 euros per pupil per school year or a maximum of 490 euros per family.

For families entitled to child benefit for three or more children and families entitled to subsistence assistance or citizen's allowance, the necessary travel costs are reimbursed in full.

Detailed information on this can be found on the website of the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (see "Further links").

• Tickets, if applicable

The application must be submitted by October 31 at the latest for the previous school year.