BusZone Parent User Guide

The BusZone app can be downloaded at the Google Play Store on Android devices and the App Store for iOS:

1. Navigate to:
   • The Google Play Store at: https://play.google.com/store from your Android device; or
   • The App Store at: https://apps.apple.com/us/app from your iOS device.
2. Tap Install or GET.
3. Tap on the app icon to open BusZone.

Compatibility:

• How to setup an account
• How to set up an account for a caregiver
• How to add a student
• How to remove a student
• How to create an Alert Zone notification
• School Notifications
• Setup Status
• Confirm or Change Student Bell Time

How to setup an account

1. Tap the application on your device to open it.
   
2. Tap one of the sign up/sign in methods:
   • Sign in using a Google account
   • Sign in using an Apple account
   • Create a new account using an email address:
     1. Enter your full name and email address.
     2. Enter a password used to access the BusZone app.
     3. Select the method you want to be notified about bus updates (either push notifications through the app or via email).
     4. Tap Register.
        

     Registered users can select the "Enable biometric login" option to sign in using the Face ID or fingerprint ID options on their devices.

3. Enter the access code provided by your school.
   
4. Tap Submit.
5. In the search field, enter the bus number you want to follow.
6. Select the number from the list.
7. Tap Next.
   
8. Enter your student's information:
   • Student ID Number (as provided by your school)
   • Full first name
   • Initial of last name
     
9. Tap Next.

   iOS Users
   If your student's name includes an apostrophe, it is necessary to select the "straight" apostrophe on the iOS keyboard. Tap and hold the apostrophe key to select the correct one.
   

10. Confirm your student's information. If the information is incorrect, tap Try Again.
11. Tap Add another student to follow another student, or tap Done to continue.
    
12. After you've entered your student information, create at least one Alert Zone to begin receiving notifications of the selected buses. Tap Create your first Alert Zone to continue.
    
13. Enter an address in the search field or drag the map around. Tap the map to drop a pin at the center of the Zone.
    
14. Name the Alert Zone. Tap Next.
15. Select all buses that go through the Alert Zone from the list of buses.
    
16. Tap Next.
17. Use the slider to adjust the radius of the Alert Zone.
18. Select the days of the week and time (either TO or FROM school) that you want to be notified.
    
19. Tap Finish to set the Alert Zone. 

How to set up an account for a caregiver

The process for creating an account for a caregiver (another family member, a babysitter, or other authorized guardian) is identical to setting one up for yourself. That authorized individual must download the app and follow account setup instructions above. 

You need to provide that authorized individual with the school access code, student ID, and bus or route number.  

The security of your student information is important. Your school district supplied you -- as parent or guardian -- with a unique student ID for each individual student. Contact your school administration if you do not have that student ID number.

How to add a student

The security of your student information is important. Your school district supplied you -- as parent or guardian -- with a unique student ID for each individual student. Contact your school administration if you do not have that student ID number.

1. Tap the Main Menu.
   
2. Tap Students or Add Students.
3. If you already have a student listed and want to add another student, tap   in the lower right-hand corner. 
   
4. Enter your student's ID number, first name, and last initial. 
5. Tap Next.
   
6. Confirm your student's information, then click Done.
   

   iOS Users
   If your student's name includes an apostrophe, it is necessary to select the "straight" apostrophe on the iOS keyboard. Tap and hold the apostrophe key to select the correct one.
   

How to remove a student

1. Tap the Main Menu.
   
2. Tap Students.
3. Swipe left on the student name you want to remove.
4. Tap Delete.
   

How to create an Alert Zone notification

1.  Tap the main menu.
   
2. Tap Create Alert Zones or Alert Zones.
3. If you already have an Alert Zone listed and want to add another Alert Zone, tap   in the lower right-hand corner. 
4. Enter an address in the search field or drag the map around. Tap the map to drop a pin at the center of the Zone.
   
5. Name the Alert Zone. Tap Next.
6. Select all buses that go through the Alert Zone from the list of buses.
   
7. Tap Next.
8. Use the slider to adjust the radius of the Alert Zone.
9. Select the days of the week and time (either TO or FROM school) that you want to be notified.
   
10. Tap Finish to set the Alert Zone.

School Notifications

During the daily scheduled alert period, bus activity is viewable on the Alert Zone map. Alert Zones are indicated with a pin and the zone radius. Vehicles are indicated by a bus graphic.

Alerts and notifications from the school are pushed to your device and are indicated by a red number on the message or alert icons. You can access those alerts and messages by tapping on them.

If the GPS unit inside the bus in unable to send data to the cell network, the application cannot provide live bus location data.

Tap School Notifications to confirm or change the Times at which the alerts are active — either going to school (Arrival) or returning from school (Departure). Slide the toggle buttons to activate those notifications for the school.

Setup Status

Completion of all sections is required to provide tracking information to you. If any of the sections have not been completed, a Setup Status screen appears at login. Those sections with checkmarks have been completed. Tap the buttons without checkmarks to enter setup information. 

Confirm or Change Student Bell Time

If your school has staggered start and end times during the day (for example, for a special education program), make sure the correct bell time is associated with your student.

1.  Tap the Main Menu.
   
2. Tap Students.
3. On the Manage Student's page, tap on your student's name.
4. On the Buses tab, confirm which buses the student rides.
   
   
5. On the Bell Times tab, select the correct bell time for your student.
   
   
6. Tap Save.

• How to setup a Ridership account
• How to set up an account for a caregiver
• How to add a student
• How to remove a student
• Z Pass Notifications
• Setup Status

How to setup a Ridership account

BusZone Ridership allows you to know when your student has scanned the card reader on the bus.

This feature is available only if your school district uses the Z Pass reader on buses and students have been issued a scan card.

1. Tap the application on your device to open it.
   
2. Tap one of the sign up/sign in methods:
   • Sign in using a Google account
   • Sign in using an Apple account
   • Create a new account using an email address:
     1. Enter your full name and email address.
     2. Enter a password used to access the BusZone app.
     3. Select the method you want to be notified about bus updates (either push notifications through the app or via email).
     4. Tap Register.
        
3. Enter the access code provided by your school.
   
4. Tap Submit.
5. Enter your student's information, including the student ID provided by the school.
6. Confirm your student's information and click Done or Add another student to add another student.
   
7. Select how you'd like to be notified when your student has scanned on or off their bus. You can select a Push notification through the app, a SMS (text) notification, or both.
   
8. Click Save.

How to set up an account for a caregiver

The process for creating an account for a caregiver (another family member, a babysitter, or other authorized guardian) is identical to setting one up for yourself. That authorized individual must download the app and follow account setup instructions above. 

You need to provide that authorized individual with the school access code, student ID, and bus or route number.  

The security of your student information is important. Your school district supplied you -- as parent or guardian -- with a unique student ID for each individual student. Contact your school administration if you do not have that student ID number.

How to add a student

The security of your student information is important. Your school district supplied you -- as parent or guardian -- with a unique student ID for each individual student. Contact your school administration if you do not have that student ID number.

1. Tap the Main Menu.
   
2. Tap Students or Add Students.
3. If you already have a student listed and want to add another student, tap   in the lower right-hand corner. 
   
4. Enter your student's ID number, first name, and last initial. 
5. Tap Next.
   

   iOS Users
   If your student's name includes an apostrophe, it is necessary to select the "straight" apostrophe on the iOS keyboard. Tap and hold the apostrophe key to select the correct one.
   

How to remove a student

1. Tap the Main Menu.
   
2. Tap Students.
3. Swipe left on the student name you want to remove.
4. Tap Delete.
   

Z Pass Notifications

The Z Pass feature allows you to know when your student has scanned the card reader on the bus. This feature is available only if your school district uses the Z Pass reader on buses and students have been issued a scan card.

1. Tap the main menu.
   
2. Tap ZPass Notifications.
   
3. Select the method that you would like to be notified.
   
   • Push Notifications sends notifications through the application.
   • SMS Notifications sends notifications via text message. You must enter your phone number to receive messages.

     Carrier fees may apply.

   

Setup Status

Completion of all sections is required to provide tracking information to you. If any of the sections have not been completed, a Setup Status screen appears at login. Those sections with checkmarks have been completed. Tap the buttons without checkmarks to enter setup information. 

Alert Settings

Under Settings, you can turn off push notifications and edit how often your device auto-refreshes the bus location on your map.

1. Tap the main menu.
   
2. Tap Settings.
   
3. Toggle Push Notifications to turn all notifications —including school messages — off or on.
4. Toggle Bus Location Refresh Interval to enable or disable the auto-refresh function on the map. When the auto-refresh function is enabled, you can adjust how often the map refreshes (in seconds) by moving the slider. The lower the number, the more frequently the map refreshes.
   

If the GPS unit inside the bus in unable to send data to the cell network, the application cannot provide live bus location data.

Profile Settings

In Profile Settings, you can change your name and password, or deactivate your account.

1. Tap the main menu.
   
2. Tap Edit Profile.
   
3. Change your name and tap Save.
   Tap Change Password to change your password.
   Tap Deactivate Account, then confirm to deactivate your account.

   Deactivating your account means you will no longer be able to use the email address on file to re-register at a later time. All alert zones and selected student and bus information will no longer be associated with your profile. If you register again, you must use another email address.

   
   

Under Contact Support, you can access support documentation or send a message to the administrator of BusZone for your school. 

1. Tap the main menu.
   
2. Tap Contact Support.
   
3. For Support documentation, select from the list of Support topics and frequently asked questions.
   
   
   To send a support request, tap Contact Support. then enter your name and email address in the open fields. Select a request category from the drop-down menu, and enter a message in the Message field.
4. Tap Submit to send the message.