How many people remember their favorite school bus driver? I still remember mine from elementary school – her name was Brenda and she always turned up the radio when a Shania Twain song was playing! Although I didn’t know it at the time, good bus drivers like Brenda go through intensive training to make sure that their students are safe and comfortable while riding the bus to and from school.
School transportation programs are led by the Colorado Department of Education’s School Transportation Division. This division provides support and resources to school transportation providers and issues regular guidance documents. These guidance documents typically contain suggestions and best practices that help school districts comply with two Code of Colorado Regulations that govern school transportation: 1 CCR 301-26 – The Colorado Rules for the Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection of School Transportation Vehicles, and 1 CCR 301-25 – Colorado Minimum Standards Governing School Transportation Vehicles.
The School Transportation Division also publishes a trainer guide that includes all the information necessary for training school bus drivers. Bus driver training falls into two sections – safe driving and student management. Learning to drive a large vehicle is extremely difficult and requires knowledge of road rules, vehicle operations, and an ability to drive in all conditions. On top of this, bus drivers are expected to establish and enforce behavioral expectations for students of all ages while maintaining a friendly environment.
Colorado is an especially tricky place to be a bus driver because of the mountain terrain and extreme weather. Can you imagine driving 40 rowdy students over a snowy mountain pass? A mountain driving overview video produced by the School Transportation Division provides tips for navigating steep grades, winding roads, and changing weather in order to prevent accidents.
The process of becoming a bus driver doesn’t stop with training. School bus drivers must have a commercial driver’s license with a special endorsement. According to the Commercial driver’s license manual, endorsed school bus drivers need to pass a special knowledge exam that tests their knowledge of school bus safety and pass a skills test. Those studying for the test can use the most recent School Bus, Multifunction and Motor Coach Operator Guide to stay up-to-date with the latest safety considerations and driver responsibilities.
School bus drivers play such an important role in Colorado’s schools that the General Assembly recently passed legislation creating the School Transportation Modernization Task Force, which will develop recommendations for improving school transportation across the state. Keep an eye out for their report, which will be published by the end of 2024!
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