SPECIAL REPORT
Understanding the Process The National Congress on School Transportation (NCST)
stated that alternative transportation drivers “be at least 18 years of age or commensurate with the state’s required age and required years of driving to become a school bus driver.” The delegates felt the age was not necessary and should be re- moved, leaving the decision to the state. One delegate suggested a policy consideration
for not allowing students to be transported in the front seat of alternative transportation vehicles under any circumstances. However, other dele- gates had concerns, stating that a 10-passenger van would be limited to nine passengers. A Ken- tucky delegate said their school district allows high school students to sit in the front when space is limited. The proposed amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 9. The delegates voted to remove the types of
alternative transportation driver training (12 bullet points ranging from defensive driving to operations in inclement weather to safe loading and unloading) to instead comply with federal, state and local requirements. After two days of the delegates sharing their
opinions, presenting amendments and approv- ing proposals (or not), the 17th NCST concluded with the resolutions committee. Resolution 2 states that “School Transportation News in a March 2024 publication identified a reporting is- sue that indicates the school bus is disappearing.” STN Editor-in-Chief Ryan Gray’s column “The Disappearing School Bus?” highlighted a dis- crepancy between historically reported numbers of students who ride the school and those of the National Household Travel Survey sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration. The resolution noted the need to develop a standardized reporting system for collecting ridership data and called on “the interim Steer- ing Committee of the 18th NCST to appoint a focus group to research and develop recommen- dations for standardization of data collection relative to ridership on school bus and make periodic reports to the Interim Committee.” The 2024 National Household Travel Survey is
currently about halfway through data collection, which will run through Oct. 31 of this year. Meanwhile, the dates and location of the 18th
NCST were not announced. State delegates were surveyed about if they felt meeting every five years was appropriate, or if they would rather meet every two or three years. The results were not available at this writing. ●
20 School Transportation News • JUNE 2025
was formed in 1939, resulting most famously with the creation of the color National School Bus Yellow. Since 1980, the Congress—it was renamed from the National Conference on School Transportation in 2005—has been held every five years to vote on a set of proposals for updating or adding to the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures. The Congress consists of representatives of state departments of education, public safety, motor vehicles, and police or other state agencies that have responsibilities for the administration of stu- dent transportation. Each state is permitted up to seven delegates with two alternates that can be substituted in throughout the proceedings. The 2025 Congress deliberated on proposals presented
by the following writing committees: Vehicle Specifications Reports • School Bus Specifications Writing Committee • Specially Equipped School Bus Writing Committee • School Bus Inspections Writing Committee • Emerging Technologies Writing Committee •
Alternative Fuels Writing Committee
Operational Procedures Reports • General Operations Writing Committee • Transportation for Students with Disabilities and Health Care Needs Writing Committee
•
Infants, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers Operations Writ- ing Committee
• School Transportation Security and Emergency Pre- paredness Writing Committee
• Activity Bus Operations Writing Committee •
Alternative Transportation Writing Committee The Congress also consists of the editing and technical
committees, appendices, Terms and Definitions Committee and resolution committee. The deliberations follow Robert’s Rule of Order, which starts with a motion being made to accept the proposal, a seconding of the motion, discussion of the proposal, discussion close, and a vote. If a delegate wishes to make an amendment to the proposal, they must state the desired amendment, and it must receive a second before following through with a discussion and vote. State delegates and other attendees will receive an up-
dated National Specifications manual later this year. Links will also be available at
nasdpts.org/NCST-NSTSP.
Episode 258 of School Transportation Nation
stnpodcast.com features David Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association, discussing his
first NCST experience. Chris Ellison, director of transportation and fleet services for Reynolds School District in Oregon, discusses his third NCST experience in Episode 259.
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