CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 5-year-old student was left alone and crying on the side of the road by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus.
A district policy allows buses to drop off some of their youngest students without a parent present.
Pre-kindergarten students are the only children in the CMS system that must have an adult there waiting for them at the school bus stop, according to the district policy.
From kindergarten on, kids can be dropped off at a bus stop alone.
“So that's just pretty scary to me,” Cybil Nesby said.
CMS parents had no idea it was the current policy.
“That's crazy,” Beverly Jones said. “I understand the bus driver has a lot of responsibilities and a lot of kids to watch over, but I think you should still let a child go with a parent or an adult."
Channel 9 reporter Elsa Gillis uncovered the policy after asking CMS officials about the 5-year-old whose parents said she was dropped off this week alone in a neighborhood five miles from her home.
The parents said she was found by a stranger, crying on the sidewalk.
Officials said students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade can be let off the bus without a parent or guardian there to greet them.
"That is really sad that that would be OK, and that in their policy, that it's OK because it's not,” Nesby said. “Kids are, they can't make decisions. They might be able to get home from there, but there are too many kids that are getting snatched up."
CMS isn't the only district with that policy. It's the same in Gaston County, according to district officials. In
Cabarrus County, an adult must be there for pre-K students and students with special needs.
In Union County, officials said pre-K and kindergarten students won't be let off without an adult there.
“So definitely something needs to change about that,” Nesby said. “I think elementary school, there should have to be a parent there.”
“At least until middle school, or like sixth grade or something,” Jones said.
Channel 9 asked the State Department of Instruction if they had a policy on the matter. Officials said there is no statewide policy for parents or guardians to meet children of certain ages at the bus stop, but it's typically a decision left up to local districts.
CMS sent Channel 9 this statement:
"CMS is always concerned about the safety and well-being of all students who ride to and from school on a CMS school bus."
"This was an unfortunate case and we are grateful that the student is safe. The district is always working to improve its process so that all students are placed on the correct school buses and arrive home safely each day."
"The CMS guidelines that require an adult to be present at a school bus stop for pre-K students only is based on staff research, best practices and realistic goals for CMS families. The district encourages parents to work closely with all elementary age children to learn their school bus stops and their school bus information as a practice or partner with older children in their neighborhood until they reach a level of comfort."
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