SMART tag

REMINDER! Students who have not utilized transportation for 20 days total will be marked inactive in the SMART tag system. If this occurs, please contact Transportation to reactivate your students.

The mobile app allows families to monitor student bus-riding activity and receive SMART alerts or push notifications.

Get started

1. Download the app
2. Sign in with your previously-used Parent Portal account login.
   • Didn't use the parent portal before? Activate your account by selecting Create an account and use the email address on file with NTPS. Enter the 6-digit code emailed to you and create a password.
3. One logged in, If your email matches the address on file for your student(s), it will display all students associated with that email address. Confirm (or remove students).
4. Set SMART Alert settings for each student.

Frequently asked questions are right in the app! Go to the Account area to access them.

No, the SMART tag system will not provide weather-related closure or emergency notification, only basic information like schedule changes (late times, etc.). Information regarding inclement weather closures/delays, bus accidents, and other emergency notifications will be provided by the North Thurston Public Schools administration via separate communication directly to parents.

Yes, guardians will be able to view a student’s ridership activity for the entire school year through the app.

Tags only have a 14-digit code which represents the student information in the system. The badge only registers when a student gets on and off the bus and cannot be read/tracked anywhere else or read/tracked by any other product or method.

The driver will be able to manually override the information and add the student to the ridership roster from the student's badge. Therefore, the student will only need one badge. Parents please contact the school directly for regular changes (multiple households).

See more information on registering a bus rider with a split household.

Students need to load and unload at their assigned bus stops.

No. Students are expected to maintain their SMART tags from year to year. If a replacement is needed, notify the office staff at your school.

If a replacement badge is needed, families may request one by notifying their school office directly.

No, no information is stored on the SMART tag badge. It only has a 14-digit code that represents the student in the SMART tag system.

A co-parent, family member, or guardian can create their own account and register their own cell phone number to receive notifications for students. While there can only be one Primary Guardian in the system for a student, there is no limit on the number of co-guardians. 

Create additional portal accounts by visiting this page. After entering the required information for one student, you'll receive a message indicating that there is already a primary guardian registered for that student. If you want to create a co-guardian account, you can proceed by entering the required username/password to create your account.

Please note: This will only register you as the co-guardian for one child. If you have other children that you need to add to your account, you can add them by using the "add student" feature.

The device the bus driver uses will be able to pull up the student's picture, name, ID number, seat number, school, grade, bus stop, and any critical medical information once the badge has been swiped.

Yes. Your school may use the ID badge for food service, library check-outs, field trips, and more. They should keep their badge with them at all times.

If a student does not have their ID Badge, the driver must personally log them in. This is more time-consuming and can delay a route, causing late buses down the line. Students without their badges will be loaded last so as not to hold up the loading process.

Elementary students who have received three manual loadings by the driver for not having their tag over a period of ten days will be reminded verbally to bring their tag (or contact their office for a new one). And email may be sent to families regarding the importance of the SMART tag. If the student continues to not use their SMART tag, families and the school will be notified by email that the student may lose their riding privileges for up to five days.

Middle and high school students, with three manual loadings by the driver over a period of ten days, will be verbally reminded by the driver. An email may be sent to the family and school regarding the importance of the SMART tag. If the student continues to not use the tag, bus privileges may be suspended until they comply with the SMART tag program.

Refer to the NTPS Student Handbook for more transportation policies.