No, specialized transportation does not include transportation in a non-specialized vehicle with an aide. The Comprehensive Guide clarifies on page 99 that:
"School-based specialized transportation is defined as transportation to a medically necessary service (as outlined in the IEP of an enrolled Medicaid beneficiary) provided in a specially adapted vehicle that has been physically adjusted or designed to meet the needs of the individual student under IDEA (e.g., special harnesses, wheelchair lifts, ramps, specialized environmental controls, etc.,) to accommodate students with disabilities in the school-based setting. Note: the presence of only an aide (on a non-adapted bus/vehicle) or simple seat belts do not make a vehicle specially adapted. Specialized transportation may consist of a specially modified, physically adapted school bus or other vehicle in the specialized transportation cost pool."
For more information about specialized transportation, we recommend you view our Reimbursement for Specialized Transportation Within Medicaid School-Based Services resource on the CMS School-Based Services Resources page.