State Department of Education officials are reminding parents who have yet to purchase their child's public school bus pass to do so before school begins in the last week of July.

Some 30,000 student riders of the public school bus — 75 percent of annual ridership — have yet to buy their bus passes, the DOE said this week.

"Parents and guardians are advised to avoid the back-to-school rush by purchasing bus passes for their children as soon as possible," Aaron Kimura, the DOE's manager of student transportation services, said in a news release. "Even students who are entitled to free bus passes must complete an application form."

The school bus fare is 35 cents per trip except in Maui County, which provides a subsidy. Fares can be purchased by academic quarter for $31.59 or for the full year at $119.70.

Download bus application forms and student transportation information at http://iportal.k12.hi.us/SBT or contact the child's school.

The completed application form and payment should be submitted to the child's school for the 2008-09 year. Eligibility requirements for school bus services are also available on the Web site.

For additional information, contact your child's school or the DOE Student Transportation Services Branch at 586-0170.