36. Who comprises the grantee transportation team?

37. What are the essential skills required for a transportation program manager or supervisor?

Working knowledge of fleet management and supervisory skills.

Experienced trainer

Experienced financial planner

Reference: Your program's job description requirements; Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards 1304.52 (b) (1,2).

38. What are the minimum educational requirements for a transportation program manager or supervisor?

Bachelors Degree in management or business related field combined with supervisory or managerial experience in the transportation field

If available, completion of school bus driver safety education course, and maintain current continuing education requirements as needed

Working knowledge of federal and state transportation regulations Current certification as Child Passenger Safety Technician

Reference: Your program's job description requirements: Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards 1304.52 (b) (1,2).

39. What are the essential skills required for a school bus driver?

The Migrant Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) Transportation Advisory Work Group recommends that the hiring agency look for the following attributes in bus driver candidates:

Reference: Your program's job description requirements; Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards 1304.52 (b)(4).

40. What are the minimum requirements for a school bus driver?

The final rule Sec. 1310.16 Driver qualifications requires that. (a) Each agency providing transportation services must ensure that persons who drive vehicles used to provide such services, at a minimum:

In addition, there are hiring requirements. Each agency providing transportation services must ensure that there is an applicant review process for use in hiring drivers, that applicants for driver positions must be advised of the specific background checks required at the time application is made, and that there are criteria for the rejection of unacceptable applicants. The applicant review procedure must include, at minimum:

Reference: Your program's job description requirements; your state's police safety handbook; your state's Association for Pupil Transportation.

If your program is considering any physical requirements additional to the federal or state standards, make sure to check with legal counsel to ensure it does not interfere with any laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Usually the crucial element is that you have a legitimate business reason for requiring these physical requirements and that you consistently apply to the designated workforce. Here is a sample of additional physical requirements for a school bus driver.

One Head Start program reportedly requires that the bus driver must pass the Department of Transportation physical requirements and an EKG if over the age of 55. They also require the demonstratible ability to open and close a manually operated bus entrance door control with a force of at least 30 pounds; climb and descend steps with a maximum step height of 17 ½ inches; operate two hand and two foot controls simultaneously and quickly; have a reaction time of ¾ a second or less from the throttle to the brake control; carry or drag a 125 pound person 30 feet in 30 seconds or less; depress a brake pedal with the foot to a pressure of a least 90 pounds; depress a clutch pedal with the foot to a pressure of a least 40 pounds unless operating an automatic transmission; exit from an emergency door opening of 24 X 48 inches at least 42 inches from the ground in ten seconds or less.

41. What is a lead bus driver and what do they do?

This is an optional position reporting to the site transportation supervisor. This position is more applicable if there are a number of bus drivers at one location. A lead bus driver is usually a seasoned program bus driver and is the initial contact for other drivers regarding mechanical and procedural bus issues. Reference: Your program's job description requirements.

42. Where do I find a copy of a bus driver's job description?

All of your program's job descriptions will be found in your agency's personnel manual. A sample bus driver job description is posted at www.mhsqic.org.

43. What would I look for in a bus aide/bus monitor job candidate?

44. What should a bus aide/bus monitor be able to do?

The final rule 1310 requires that (2) before bus monitors assigned to vehicles used to provide such services begin their duties, they are trained on:

The MSHS Advisory Work Group recommends that the bus monitor:

We recommend that bus monitors should attend the same pre-service and in-service workshops as the bus drivers and classroom teacher aides.

Reference: Your state's Child Day Care Licensing Handbook; Your program's job description requirements, and Sec. 1310.17 Driver and bus monitor training.

45. Why is it so difficult to recruit and retain school bus drivers?

Head Start pay scale is not comparable with public school bus drivers Short length of the Head Start program's season; drivers prefer permanent year-round employment Public school bus drivers that drive for the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs are generally not available at the beginning or the ending of the season. Split shifts Note: this is a nationwide problem.

Some of the potential benefits Head Start programs could offer to help retain drivers might include:

46. What training is required for a Head Start Transportation Supervisor?

Training requirements will vary from state to state and the size and needs of your program. He or she must be knowledgeable about driver training requirements as well as State and Federal laws regarding school bus transportation (i.e., vehicle standards, annual bus inspections, drug and alcohol testing, drug and alcohol abuse, state traffic laws, program policies and procedures, and program record keeping).

47. Does the transportation coordinator need to be a qualified driver?

It depends on the individual needs of the program. A program may have sufficient drivers to cover all the routes or there may be a driver shortage that may require the transportation coordinator to drive.

48. What training should bus monitors have?

According to 1310, programs must specifically provide bus monitors with training in the areas of: child boarding and exiting procedures, use of child restraint systems, responding to emergencies, emergency evacuation procedures, use of special equipment, required paperwork, child pick up and release procedures and pre- and post-trip vehicle checks (e.g., ensure that there are no safety hazards and that no child is left on the bus). The burden of the requirement has been eased by eliminating the requirement that monitors receive exactly the same training as drivers. The provisions identifies types of training that monitors must receive to ensure that safety-related topics are included.

49 Do all states require driver certification training?

Most states require school bus driver certification, but there are a few that do not. The length of training and type of training will vary from state to state. States who provide training may offer State traffic laws for school buses and obstacle course skills in addition to some of the topics listed below.

Head Start programs are required to provide driver training. Prior to transporting any enrolled child, bus drivers must receive a combination of classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction sufficient to enable each driver to:

Drivers must also receive instruction on the topics listed in 45 CFR 1304.52(k)(1), (2) and (3)(i) and the provisions of the Head Start Program Performance Standards for Children with Disabilities (45 CFR 1308) relating to transportation services for children with disabilities.

Drivers must receive refresher training courses including the topics listed above and any additional necessary training to meet the requirements applicable in the State where the agency operates.

In order to carryout their responsibilities, school bus drivers should have training in the topics listed above, but training is most useful when it corresponds to the natural cycle of events that occur during the year. The minimum hours of training will depend on individual needs, your programs needs, state requirements and federal regulations. Training and adequate supervision go hand in hand. Prioritize your training needs, but make sure that you keep accurate records of who receives required trainings.

50. Are we required to transport children with disabilities?

If your program provides transportation services, such services must include children with disabilities.

The transportation person responsible must ensure compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act and the Head Start Performance Standards on Services for Children with Disabilities as they relate to transportation services. Any special transportation requirements will be specified in the child's Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP); i.e., special pick-up or drop-off requirements, special seating requirements, special equipment needs, or any special assistance that may be required. These are legal documents and must be adhered to. Head Start regulations require training for bus drivers on the provisions of the Head Start Program Performance Standards for Children with Disabilities (45 CFR 1308) relating to transportation services for children with disabilities.

Whenever possible, children with disabilities must be transported in the same vehicles used to transport other children enrolled in the Head Start or Early Head Start program.If transportation staff notes any changes or difficulties in transporting the child, train them to immediately report it to their supervisor.

51. How are transportation programs monitored and how frequently?

The Head Start Act requires a full review of program compliance with all applicable regulations by a federal monitoring team of every Head Start program at least once during each three-year period. When programs offer Head Start transportation services, those services will be reviewed for compliance with the 45 CFR Part 1310 regulations. Monitoring includes a review of written records, parent, community, governing body and staff interviews, and observation of program operations. The Head Start Performance Standards (regulations) mandate that grantees conduct a self-assessment of their effectiveness and progress in meeting program goals and objectives. Again, transportation as an integral part of a Head Start agency's program must be included in the self-assessment. The Performance Standards also mandate each grantee to establish and implement procedures for the ongoing monitoring of Early Head Start and Head Start operation, which must include the transportation program. Each agency providing transportation services must ensure that the annual evaluation of each driver of a vehicle used to provide such services includes an on-board observation of road performance

Your state or local legislation or regulations will determine if state or local officials will monitor your transportation program.

52. What will the federal monitoring team address during the three-year program review?

The federal monitoring team will assess the transportation program's compliance with the provisions of the regulation as they became effective. (see FAQ #1)

53. What transportation information should be presented to the grantee Policy Council and how often?

All transportation policies should be presented to the grantee policy council for review and approval. While not required, review with the Policy Council of transportation program procedures is advisable, in order to receive feedback from the parent members regarding the potential effectiveness and workability of the procedures. The results of the grantee's annual self-assessment and very importantly, the results of each federal monitoring review must be presented to the policy council for their review, advice and guidance to the grantee on actions to be taken for quality improvement, and approval of Quality Improvement Plans, should they be required by the federal review. Each time the grantee policy council meets, a report on the status of the transportation program should be presented. Most grantees require monthly operational reports from center level in order to monitor on an on-going basis.

Reference: Head Start Act Sec. 642(b)(4) & Sec. 1304.50 (entire section on Program Governance); State and/or local legislation and regulations.

54. What would a grantee include in its monitoring tool for the transportation program?

Qualifications and training of transportation staff, including bus drivers, bus aides and other staff who may substitute at times as bus drivers. Condition and operational status of each vehicle used to transport children, based on a pre- and post-trip inspection checklist that should cover all equipment (i.e., condition of tires, signal/light systems, child safety seats installed properly, etc.). How bus routes were established and accessibility to eligible families; parent participation in establishing routes; maintaining the allowable time limit for transporting children to and from a Head Start center as set by federal and state laws. How the transportation program integrates with and supports the educational program area (i.e., has the grantee developed and implemented a transportation curriculum, and is it working effectively?). The insurance coverage of the vehicles and other appropriate liability insurance coverage. A review of the loading and unloading process both on site and on route. Review execution of evacuation/emergency protocols Assess compliance with drug testing regulations

55. Are state-level inspections and reports required?

Most states require state-level inspections and reports which are usually performed by the State Police Department and Head Start programs must comply with them.

Reference: State or local laws and regulations.

56. What record keeping and reports are required for Head Start transportation services?

The Head Start grantee must develop and implement current and accurate record keeping documentation to ensure detailed knowledge by grantee officials of the operational status of the transportation program. In addition, grantees must ensure not only the safety aspects of transportation operations, but also the protection of the grantee against legal liabilities should accidents occur. This will require the purchase of appropriate insurance coverage and precise record keeping and reporting requirements. The agency providing transportation services must ensure that all accidents involving vehicles that transport Head Start children are reported in accordance with applicable State requirements.

Keep records on bid announcements, bid awards, bus specifications, and new vehicle delivery inspections.

Because each agency providing transportation services must ensure that vehicles used to provide such services are maintained in safe operating condition at all times, current and accurate records must be kept on policies, procedures, and the implementation of:

57. How can a new transportation coordinator find out about school bus laws and driver training requirements in his or her state?

The best source of information is the State Director for Pupil Transportation. His office can usually provide you with an answer to any questions regarding school bus driver training, driver certification, or school bus laws. In most states, the school bus drivers training and certification is handled by the Dept. of Education.

58. How can a transportation coordinator keep informed of any changes that are taking place in the pupil transportation industry?

There are two publications that are excellent resources for pupil transportation: School Transportation News, and School Bus Fleet Magazine. The NHTSA web site is also an excellent source.

59. What transportation training does the classroom staff need?

In many programs, the classroom staff serves as bus monitors. The staff that does not serve as monitors should at least be familiar with bus rules, behavior management on the bus, time schedules, and basic knowledge of transportation policies and procedures including the system for communicating with parents. Classroom teachers will work with bus aides on activities that extend learning into the transportation transition (bus ride).

60. What safety education is our Head Start program required to provide?

Sec. 1310.21 Safety education.

End of Section 3: Staffing, Training, Monitoring

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