School buses are the safest form of mass transit in America. Every day, school buses travel through congested city traffic and on isolated country roads in all types of weather, safely transporting millions of children to and from school and school-related activities. Federal and state standards for school bus construction and maintenance and…

Pupil transportation is an essential part of the overall school program, which requires constant supervision and direction. Perhaps no other phase of the school program is more closely observed by the public or has a greater tendency to mold public opinion about the schools than the school bus system. The success of any school district pupil…

The booklet presents information and illustrations regarding bus transportation of handicapped children. The roles and responsibilities of drivers and aides are discussed as are such topics as seating arrangements, first aid measures (for falls and seizures), embarking and debarking procedures (including ways to encourage independence in walking),…

Outlines common-sense tips for disciplining student bus riders that are recommended by several driver-training programs. Themes include the following: (1) Set a few clear rules for proper bus behavior; (2) be positive; and (3) establish amiable communication with the children and with the principal as well. (CJH)

Presents factual data on research in school bus safety that shows that seat belts in school buses may actually be detrimental to students. Includes data from surveys and research tests and sources for additional information on seat belts in school buses. (MD)

Outlines the development of the National Minimum Standard Conferences. The major purpose of these conferences has been recommendations regarding standards and operations for school buses. (MD)

Questions based on observations of a Chicago (Illinois) school bus program deal with driver capability, procedures for bus evacuation in an emergency, bus comfort for passengers, safety, fuel efficiency, and creative use of students' bus time. (MLF)

Discusses elements of an efficient, comprehensive school bus safety program. (Author/MLF)

The experiences of several school bus garages around the country show that it is possible to modernize equipment and upgrade training while also holding the line on costs. Computer software is used to track servicing, inventory, and other information about a bus fleet. Related factors in improved bus maintenance are the quality of the vehicles and…

This reexamination of Hawaii's student transportation service program revealed that student safety is a concern despite improvements over the past 12 years. One problem is continued use of pre-1977 school buses that do not meet federal safety construction standards. Students also travel in unsafe van-like "type-III" school buses and in…

The procedures in this manual are designed to establish stability and continuity within the student transportation department of the Toms River Regional Schools in New Jersey. The manual is divided into three sections. Section 1 provides driver and aide specific information. It includes directives related to time clock, spare buses, and…

The safest means of transportation in the United States is the school bus fleet. Each school day, over 350,000 school buses transport about 22,000,000 children ages 3 to 21--from wheelchair pupils to varsity football players--to and from school in weather conditions ranging from those for Fairbanks, Alaska, to those typical of Cave Creek, Arizona.…

In New York State, all plans and specifications for the erection, repair, enlargement, or remodeling of school buildings in any public school district must be reviewed and approved by the Division of Educational Facilities Planning. The Division also strives to offer advice and counsel to school districts and architects to help them resolve their…

Reports on the Supreme Court's decision not to rule on a case involving the formation of an extracurricular religion club. This leaves the schools with no definitive legal decision for guidance in these cases. Also reports on court decisions in two recent cases involving schools' responsibility for protecting students on their way to and from…

Safety audits were conducted in each of New York State's 750 school districts to help school administrators understand and comply with laws and regulations relating to the safety aspects of pupil transportation. (Author/MLF)