Student Transportation Allocation Reporting System (STARS)
The Student Transportation Allocation Reporting System (STARS) is used for the distribution of operations funding for school district transportation and for providing an evaluation of relative efficiency.
STARS funding uses a regression analysis using individual school district characteristics to determine an expected cost of operations. STARS Efficiency ratings are calculated using a different statistical system (Data Envelopment Analysis).
Funding reports and Efficiency Ratings are released at the end of February each year and are found at the links below.
School districts report student ridership counts and other data three times per year: Fall, Winter and Spring. These reports can be found at the “Quarterly Reports” link.
Three annual non-funding related reports are also collected by STARS: School Transportation Fuel, School Bus Mileage, and McKinney-Vento Transportation.
+ STARS Funding Reports
School district transportation operations funding for the 2012-13 school year is calculated according to the phase in process described in RCW 28A.160.192.
Description Detail Report
Prior years 1026A reports
The second step in determining the 2012-13 school year allocation is a comparison with the transportation allocation and expenditures from the 2011-12 school year.
Transition Allocation Worksheet
+ STARS Efficiency Ratings
Each school district’s transportation operations are calculated using a statistical process (Data Envelopment Analysis) that uses data returned from STARS and other available data that describe the district characteristics. View summary sheet of the ratings.
For each school district rated at less than 100%, a weighted set of cohort districts determines a “target district” that reflects the hypothetical efficiency possible for the district being evaluated. The Efficiency Detail Report shows the districts cohort set and the expenditures and number of buses used by the target district.
A description of the Efficiency Detail Report.
For a description of the Efficiency Rating system and to review the evaluation process that will be used to assist districts rated at less than 90% identify possible methods of improving efficiency, download a blank copy of the Transportation Efficiency Review.
Details on how the theory behind the Efficiency Rating system can be found in the Development of Student Transportation Funding Methodology Options for Washington State, in Appendix C, starting on page 82. View the report
+ Quarterly Reports
The student counts reports are the primary drivers of student transportation funding. Counts are required three times per year. Counts consist of combined AM + PM ridership. The worksheet linked below provides statewide summary data on student counts, with reporting periods provided on separate worksheets that provide district level data.
In addition to student count data, school districts are required to provide information on their school bus routes. The summary report shows the Student Detail Report, the Route Summary Report, the Bus Summary Report and the Route Detail Report. View these reports.
+ STARS Reporting Reference Material
The following material is provided to assist school districts in completing the required STARS reporting. The primary reference for reporting consists of the Reporting Instructions and Detailed Guidance. Also provided is a copy of the current WAC language.
Reference material for district use of the secure online reporting system consists of the STARS system user manual and the GIS Application User Manual. Also provided is a list of the route destinations currently available within the GIS application.
Provided for optional use are a Fuel Calculator workbook (for the annual fuel report) and a Student Count Workbook to assist districts in identifying the best reporting period.
+ Other (Optional) Forms
The School Bus Route and Bus Stop Location Form is provided for those districts wanting to provide data without using the STARS GIS interface. Use of this form is optional.
+ One-Road Mile Maps
Choose a school district name from the drop-down menu to download the district map book containing the one-road mile areas for each school. The one-road mile area around each school was calculated using GIS software and the most current GIS data for roads in the State of Washington. These maps will be updated periodically as new road data becomes available.
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