Transportation
Transportation services are defined as the planned transporting of children to and from school. Incidental trips, such as transporting a sick child home before the end of the school day or taking a small group of children to and from required services, are not included within the transportation services compliance requirements.
School Bus Requirements
Each school bus transporting Head Start children must have the following equipment:
- A communication system to call for assistance in case of an emergency
- Safety equipment for use in an emergency, including a mounted fire extinguisher and a sign indicating the location
- A first aid kit and sign indicating the location
- A seat belt cutter for use in an emergency evacuation and a sign indicating the location
- Appropriate child restraint systems for the height and weight of each child on the school bus
- A reverse beeper system
Facts & Highlights
- Within the first 30 days of school, all parents and children must be trained in pedestrian safety.
- School bus emergency evacuation drills must be practiced three times per school year.
- Additional transportation safety curriculum for the children includes topics, such as:
- Safe bus riding practices
- Safety procedures for boarding and leaving the bus
- Safety procedures for crossing the street to and from the bus
- Recognition of the danger zones around the bus
- All school bus drivers must have a current Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and participate in annual pre-service training.
- Additional bus driver training includes:
- Classroom and behind the wheel instruction
- Safe loading and unloading of the children
- Basic First Aid
- Handling of emergency situations and vehicle evacuation
- Operating special equipment
- Routine safety and maintenance checks
- Instructions on topics related to disabilities
- Maintaining accurate records as necessary
- Defensive driving
- Student management
- Bus Monitor training includes:
- Loading and unloading children
- Proper use of child restraint systems
- Emergency procedures and evacuations
- Safe release of children
- Use of safety equipment
- Maintaining accurate records as necessary
- Children being transported in small vans to required services are secured in child safety seats.
- The partnership school districts provide transportation services for Head Start children to and from school in accordance with their school district policies and procedures.
