22. Where do I find regulations pertaining to Head Start transportation?

a. Federal level: The Head Start Improvement Act of 1992 contained a provision that requires the Head Start Bureau to develop regulations for the safe transportation of Head Start children. In addition, the Final Report of the Advisory Committee on Head Start Quality and Expansion included in its recommendations the development of ``* * * regulations to assure that safe and effective transportation services are available.'' .

The Final Rule 45 CFR Part 1310 can be located at

www.hskids-tmsc.org/publications/im95/fr95_25.htm

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - Guidelines for the Safe Transportation of Pre-school Age Children in School Buses - www.nhtsa.dot.gov have been integrated into the Head Start Transportation Final Rule published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2001

b. State level: National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) - www.nasdpts.org;

c. Local level: Local School district, other local Head Starts

23. Where do I find specifications for purchasing a bus?

Note: in a few months, NHTSA will release "Choosing the Correct School Bus for Transporting Pre-school Age Children". Discusses how to "spec" a school bus.

24. Where do I find information about child safety seats and restraints?

The NHTSA web site gives listings for each state's certified Child Safety Seat Technicians who have received training in proper selection and installation of child safety seats. See www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cpstrainingprograms/statecontact person. NHSTA has published a booklet, Proper Use of Child Safety Seats in School Buses which gives guidance in selecting child safety restraints that fit school bus seats, including integrated child safety restraints.

In local communities, health care facilities; hospitals, police and fire departments have certified Child Safety Seat Technicians who can advise you in selecting child safety seats that are compatible with your vehicles as well as come and help you teach your drivers how to put child restraints in your bus.

25. Where do I find transportation publications related to Head Start?

26. Where do I get my buses maintained?

Check with school districts, transit programs, and other Head Start programs for garages to contract with. Reference Head Start Transportation Final Rule Sec.1310.13

27. Where do I find information regarding contracted transportation?

Contact local school districts and other Head Start programs. If contracting, be sure to have a properly executed contract by both parties (or memorandum of understanding) in place before services begin. Include insurance and a beginning and expiration date. The contract must be monitored by your organization or agency. Refer to 45 CFR 1310.10 Transportation of Head Start Children for requirements for contracted services.

28. Where are Head Start-related training conferences?

Most of the national and state training conferences are listed on the School Transportation News website calendar of events.

A networking session is offered for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start transportation managers at the annual National Migrant Head Start conference in March of each year (see www.mhsqic.org).

The Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Transportation Advisory Work Group meets annually to exchange information, update the Frequently Asked Questions, and provide training. The School Transportation News Conference is held either in Reno or Las Vegas, NV, in July. The National Conference and Exhibition on Transporting Students with Disabilities and the Preschool Population occurs the first week of March each year (see www.serifpress.com).

29. Where do I find information about transporting children with special needs?

Work with local school districts and other Head Starts to share training of drivers and assistants. Your Regional Education and Mental Health/Disabilities Specialists should be able to help with addressing the needs of children with disabilities as well as with training. See FAQ #37.You can contact the Disabilities Services Quality Improvement Center for your region. Many State Directors of Pupil Transportation have training programs.

NHTSA will soon release training on "Transporting Students with Special Needs".

Reference Head Start transportation Final Rule Sec.1310.17(c) and Sec.1310.22 and the Head Start Performance standards for Services for Children with Disabilities 45 CFR Part 1308.

30. What would be included in a Head Start transportation manual?

The following is a sample table of contents for a Head Start transportation manual:

Also check with other Migrant Head Start programs in your state; they usually are willing to share manuals, forms and other resources. (For national listing of Migrant Head Start programs, see www.mhsqic.org). The Pupil Transportation Safety Institute has published a Head Start Transportation Manual. For information, go to www.ptsi.org for ordering information.

31. How do I get parents involved in transportation?

The best way to involve parents is to include them in the decisions about transportation. Meet with the parent Policy Council and Center Committees and tell them about the challenges you face and ask for their ideas on how to solve your challenges. Help parents obtain low/no cost child safety seats for their own vehicles.

Give transportation training such as car seat installation and child passenger safety training at a parent meeting. Head Start programs are required to provide safety education to staff, parents and children - see Head Start Transportation Final Rule 1310.21 - Safety Education.

32. How do I get community partners involved in transportation? Who in the community?

Transportation personnel must make an effort to link-up with other agencies in their local areas that provide similar services and have similar goals. Trainings that are provided for bus drivers and assistants can be shared with other Head Start programs and sometimes local school districts. Car seat installation clinics are provided in communities by fire stations, health clinics, and police departments. These can be a collaboration. Notify fire departments when emergency evacuation training is taking place so they can participate.

Each agency providing transportation services must make reasonable efforts to coordinate transportation resources with other human services agencies in its community in order to control costs and to improve the quality and the availability of transportation services. The agency must explore the option of participating in any coordinated public or private transportation systems existing in the community; and where no coordinated public or private non-profit transportation system exists in the community, make every effort to identify other human services agencies also providing transportation services and, where reasonable, to participate in the establishment of a local transportation coordinating council.

Reference Head Start Transportation Final Rule Sec.1310.23 Coordinated Transportation

33. Where do I find information about buses and vans (non-conforming vehicles)?

www.libertybusinc.com
www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Contact the Transportation Specialist at your regional Quality Improvement Center for technical assistance. .
Reference Head Start Transportation Final Rule Sec.1310.12

34. What is the required adult: child ratio while transporting?

Head Start vehicles must have at least two adults on board - the driver and a monitor. Some states require the same adult:child ratio during transport as in the classroom. Grantees must adhere to state and federal regulations and follow whichever is the most restrictive. Reference Head Start Transportation Final Rule Sec.1310.17 and State licensing regulations.

35. Where do I find information about emergency procedures?

Check with your State Pupil Transportation regulations. Some states have detailed procedures which must be followed by all transporters of school children. Consult the National Health and Safety Performance Standards for Out-of-Home Care sections on transportation which are not requirements, but are best practice. .

Refer to Head Start Transportation Final Rule Section 1310.21

Refer to your state child care licensing requirements.

End of Section 2: Planning, Resources, Safety Restraints

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