School Bus Transportation News at STN Media

Industry Response

School bus after explosion of 3-lbs. of explosives during controlled test in Cincinnati, November 2004. The test was sponsored by the National Association for Pupil Transportation in cooperation with local emergency and security services.

In the United States several incidents of domestic terrorism directed against school buses have occurred. To date, none of these incidents appear to be related to international terrorism. Still, the industry is beginning to take safety measures.

School Transportation Security Awareness (STSA) is a program first developed in the fall of 2005 by the Transportation Security Adminstration in collaboration with the school transportation industry to give school bus drivers training on identifying suspicious activities and items and reporting them to local authorities. (updated March 2008)

Department of Homeland Security Fact Sheet [PDF] provides a description of the DHS Homeland Security Operations Center which is considered the nation's nerve center for sharing vital security information among various levels of government. (March 2006)
Department of Homeland Security Advisory System [PDF] describes the color code system -- red, orange, yellow, blue and green -- by which the federal government alerts the nation to possible terrorist threats. (March 2006)
Transportation Security Administration Corporate Security Review Program [PDF] outlines management security practices companies are encouraged to undertake, organized into assessment, planning and implementation sections. (March 2006)
Carrier Risk Assessment [PDF] is a security self assesment program by which school districts can measure their preparation for any type of emergency. The goal is to obtain 500 points. (September 2006)
Safe Schools Initiative [PDF] is a program designed to discourage drug use and violence in schools. Developed in collaboration between the U.S. Dept. of Education and the U.S. Secret Service. (March 2006)
How to Ready Your Business for the Unthinkable [PDF] describes w hat every private business enterprise should do to prepare for any emergency.
Guide to Community Hazard Symbols [PDF] Roadside signs (March 2006)
Pupil Transportation System Security - More Attention from Terrorists Demands More Attention from Us [PDF] is a position paper from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (January 2005)
NAPT Video Centers on Security and School Bus Inspections,
June 2005
Pupil Transportation System Security: Different Times - Added Responsibilities [PDF] is a position paper from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (June 2004)
New Mexico School Bus Driver Security Training Program, May 2004
New Mexico School Bus Security Course Outline [PDF]
New Mexico School Bus Security Course Participants Guide [PDF]
How Ready Are the States?" School Transportation News, March 2004
NSTA Top 25 Security Tasks administers survey of member companies by the National School Transportation Association (December 2002)

Close-up photo of remains of school bus following controlled explosion during test in Cincinnati.