Last month, the agency's School Bus Safety Education Team released details from the 41st annual survey, which was originated by the Kansas Department of Transportation. It found that a total of eight student fatalities were reported nationwide last school year, five fewer than during the 2009-2010 school year.

The fatalities are recorded when students are struck and killed by passing motorists or their own school bus while either attempting to board or were egressing from stopped school buses.

The national survey began in 1970 when 26 states reported 75 total student fatalities, and is based on the fatality accident reports each state agency provides based on school transportation safety and/or accident records. KSDE said the 2010-2011 figures are only as accurate as what the reporting agency has provided. Additionally, the only fatalities reported for the survey are those that involved school children in or around the loading and unloading areas of a school bus or transit bus.

The survey does not include on-board fatalities.