In regression analysis, the notion of population validity is of theoretical interest for describing the usefulness of the underlying regression model, whereas the presumably more important concept of population cross-validity represents the predictive effectiveness for the regression equation in future research. It appears that the inference…

Hard-to-grasp dollar amounts are forcing real cuts in K-12 education at a time when the cost of fueling buses and providing school lunches is increasing and the demands of the federal No Child Left Behind Act still loom larger over states and districts. "One of the real challenges is to continue progress in light of the economy," said…

Offers examples of efforts by transportation departments at schools and colleges to become more resourceful in their efforts to provide efficient and safe services. These include advances in routing, switching to different vehicles, and encouraging alternatives to driving. (EV)

A need to take on additional responsibilities of managing the transportation system at their local campuses is the current trend among an increasing number of facilities and operations directors. Tightening budgets have led many education institutions to reduce staffing by consolidating the positions of transportation and facilities director,…

Examines issues concerning outsourcing student transportation services: cost; management needs and capabilities; goals; and politics. Critical areas of transportation management are highlighted such as personnel management, student management and discipline, risk management, fleet analysis, and routing and scheduling. (GR)

Describes how a school district created a more efficient bus routing system with the help of two industrial engineers and the district computer. (IRT)

Describes the essential elements of a student bus transportation contract with a private transportation service company such as reporting requirements, problem-solving procedures, and performance penalties and incentives. (PKP)

Describes the arrangements that allowed the Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee to hire school buses to rescue the transportation system at the winter games in Lake Placid (New York). (IRT)

The observational study examined the frequency and severity of misbehaviors of 98 behaviorally disordered adolescents on both mainstreamed and categorical bus transportation arrangements. Data indicated a dramatic increase in frequency and severity of misbehavior during the period of categorical transportation with a parallel increase in the…

Successful school bus drivers bring much more than mechanical know-how to the job. They develop good rapport with students while acting to bring undesirable student behavior under control. Drivers must also show an interest in students' welfare and have a good sense of humor. (MLH)

This document outlines measures to enhance the safe transportation of children to and from school. It reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is dedicated to the highest standards of safety in school buses, and it outlines some of the NHTSA guidelines, such as rollover protection, body-joint strength, seat belts,…

The Cobb County (Georgia) School District, which transports 61,000 students to 88 schools on 763 buses daily, avidly studied privatization possibilities. Since the bus fleet is relatively new and drivers' wages compare favorably with metropolitan Atlanta's, the district concluded it could transport students better and more cheaply. A sidebar lists…

The computerization of school bus maintenance records by the Niskayuna (New York) Central School District enabled the district's transportation department to engage in management practices resulting in significant savings. The district obtains computer analyses of the work performed on all vehicles, including time spent, parts, labor, costs,…

Since the acquisition of diesel-powered school buses for the Half Hollow Hills (New York) School District, fuel efficiency has doubled. This has helped cover the costs of refurbishing older buses and establishing a more sophisticated shop operation and more efficient recordkeeping. (Author/MLF)

Briefly describes programs that some school districts have adopted to encourage students (and, in some cases, parents and other members of the community) to use school buses for transportation rather than private cars. (IRT)